Member Article

Shipley patisserie and other Yorkshire producers to supply Waterstones

Shipley baker and patissier, Just Desserts has been selected by national book chain Waterstones along with other Yorkshire producers to supply a range of its premium, handmade desserts for its newly launched Café W branch in York city centre.

Yorkshire’s Regional Food Group has applauded Waterstones for making the decision to use local food and drink suppliers in one of its latest in-store cafes.

Visitors to Waterstones Café W on Coney Street will have a selection of Yorkshire’s finest food and drink from local producers, including Just Desserts, which supplies the hospitality and foodservice sector; Bondgate Bakery in Otley, Cryer and Stott Cheese Mongers and York based small business, Puckett’s Pickles.

Jamie Hanslip, bookshop manager at Waterstones York said; “I am delighted to say that Café W at Waterstones York has been an incredible success, thanks in no small part to the support of our fantastic local suppliers who have really helped to build our reputation with their delicious produce.

“It gives us real pleasure to be able to champion the food of some of Yorkshire’s finest producers and the customer response has been brilliant.”

Waterstones has around 90% of the food and drink sold in Café W, York being sourced in Yorkshire, contributing towards the local economy.

The Café W concept is currently being rolled out nationally by Waterstones with cafés now open in 20 bookshops across the country and even more scheduled to open in 2014. The menu in each Café W is unique, brimming with beautiful food from specially selected local producers.

When it came to finding suppliers for the York café Waterstones turned to deliciouslyorkshire, as the authority on all things food and drink in Yorkshire to help them select and source the suppliers they needed to stock Café W.

Deliciouslyorkshire works with food and drink businesses of varying sizes to help them achieve their business goals, which for many small producers will include securing valuable supply contracts and regular customers like Waterstones.

Jo Satariano, marketing manager at Deliciouslyorkshire said: “It’s great news to see a national chain like Waterstones putting local food on their agenda.

“Being able to supply Café W at York is a fantastic opportunity for some of our smaller producers and we were thrilled to be able to help the Waterstones team find the local suppliers they needed to make the café a success.”

One such supplier is James O’Dwyer, managing director of Just Desserts, who said “Supplying the new Cafe W at Waterstones in York is hugely significant and it’s great that they are offering their customers a local flavour by championing the best food and drink from the region.

’To be associated with a high profile company sends out positive messages about how we are perceived as a supplier.

“It also helps to raise our local and national profile, as well as providing a solid platform to develop new business and further extend our distribution area,” continued James.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .