Manufacturers could be missing out by not signing up to product specification software, according to Nick Redford (pictured), managing director of foodservice buying group Caterforce.
He is calling on suppliers to subscribe to Erudus, which enables manufacturers to share changes to ingredients and allergen information with wholesalers at the click of a button.
Redford said that Caterforce’s members place huge value on suppliers who subscribe to the system.
“It is used by 117 wholesalers and 85,000 caterers. It’s a no-brainer that manufacturers should also be using it.”
He added: “Many suppliers still use the likes of Microsoft Excel and Word to provide updates to product data.
“This can have big consequences for wholesalers and caterers. For example, it increases the risk of human error and an end user being supplied incorrect allergen information.
“In addition, this manual process is a massive time burden. In Erudus, the manufacturer updates the product once and it’s communicated to wholesalers and caterers instantly.”
One Caterforce member, Castell Howell, of Llanelli, introduced SushiSushi to Erudus and the supplier increased sales as a direct result of signing up to the software.
Jon Shayler, Erudus’ chief operating officer, said: “We are the largest foodservice data pool in the UK, and we are positioned to bring the entire food industry together by offering a single place for its data needs.”
