Weekly news summary 1st June 2015


HEADLINES THIS WEEK:

– BIDVEST 3663 REBRANDED AS BIDVEST FOODSERVICE
– TODAY’S GROUP MEMBER WINS BEER AWARDS
– BRAKES MAKES SUSTAINABLE FISH PLEDGE


BIDVEST 3663 ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE

The name 3663, which was introduced in 1999 after Booker decided to hive off its foodservice division, is being phased out.

The business was relaunched as 3663, each of the numbers signifying the letters of the word ‘food’ on a telephone keypad.

Bidvest FoodserviceNow, Bidvest 3663, as the company has been called in recent years, will, from 1 July, be known as Bidvest Foodservice as part of a ‘programme of evolution’.

A new logo is being introduced across all livery, signage and communications. The website is also being rebranded as www.bidvest.co.uk and executives can be emailed at name@bidvest.co.uk.

Commenting on the new title, chief executive Andrew Selley said: “Changing our name signifies much more than redesigning a logo. Our new identity marks a new era for Bidvest Foodservice in terms of culture, our structure and our operators.

“We have worked hard to review every aspect of the business with customer needs in mind, starting with the appointment of local depot General Managers who have a key role in supporting the drive for service excellence. This has enabled us to put decision making closer to the customer, so that our teams can be more responsive to local needs.”

“Our five key ingredients are: delivering service excellence, providing great food choices, offering real value, being forward thinking and employing the best team.”

Tel: Bidvest Foodservice (0370) 3663 000


THREE BEER AWARDS FOR TODAY’S GROUP MEMBER

Today’s Group’s on-trade division member The Kite Brewery, of Llantrisant, near Pontyclun, won three prizes – gold, silver and bronze – at the Society of Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) Awards 2015.

Wales’s largest independent distributor of cask ale took gold in the best bitters and pale ales category for Jemima’s Pitchfork beer (abv 4.4%), which also won silver in the overall champion of the competition section.

The Kite BreweryThunderbird, the brewery’s light, ‘citrusy’ ale (abv 4.5%), was awarded bronze in the premium bitters and pale ales category.

Managing director of The Kite Brewery Rhys Anstee described the triple win as “incredible”.

The brewery is offering customers a special deal on the award-winning drinks – buy any 2 x 9 packs for £70 each.

The next focus, said Anstee, is on craft ale kegs. “We’ve just invested £16,000 in equipment to start offering craft ale kegs in addition to cask ales.”

Tel: The Kite Brewery (01443) 406080


SUSTAINABLE FISH PLEDGE BY BRAKES

A statement issued by Brakes claims that ‘millions’ of UK schoolchildren, hospital patients, workplaces and restaurant diners are to be served only demonstrably sustainable fish.

The company is a signatory to the Sustainable Fish Cities pledge, which commits companies to a raft of measures to ensure that all general sale, own-brand fish and seafood products are from verifiably sustainable sources, protecting marine environments and supporting sustainable fishermen and farmers.

The foodservice wholesaler has stopped sourcing MCS (Marine Conservation Society) 5 rated products and is committed to removing or resourcing all 4 rated items within 12 months.

It will also clearly identify which products are most sustainable by applying the MCS’s 1-3 rating on its online product directory to help customers make the best choices. Products may also be Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified.

The Sustainable Fish Cities campaign aims to see only sustainable fish on menus in the UK. It is now active in 14 towns and cities across the UK’s SFC network.

Ruth Westcott, who is Sustainable Fish Cities project officer at the Sustain charity, said: “This truly groundbreaking scheme means that customers don’t actually need to know the ins and outs of seafood sustainability to make a good choice; the responsibility has been taken by their supplier.

“People are eating more fish than ever when they eat out and it is simply unacceptable that they should be able to choose an endangered fish from a menu in the UK.”

So far, caterers serving over 500 million meals a year have committed to the pledge standards.

Tel: Brakes Group (01233) 206000

Brakes sustainable fish

 

Published Date: May 29, 2015
Category: Wholesale Industry News