Member Article

Joining leading buying group helped family-run wholesaler “maximise buying power”

A North East-based foodservice wholesaler has heralded the impact on business since becoming a member of an international buying group.

Tyneside Foodservice, which supplies more than 900 customers across the North East of England, joined Fairway Foodservice as a founder member in 1988 and have benefited from the support offered by the organisation to compete in the industry.

Tyneside, which was founded in 1979 offers more than 3,500 products across frozen, chilled, ambient, and non-food. The family-owned business originally started life as a frozen foodservice operation and diversified by adding ambient and chilled products. This side of the business has grown by more than 30 per cent.

Sales director Peter Henderson said the firm hopes to continue to grow its customer base after more than three decades of support from Fairway.

He said: “We joined Fairway along with five frozen food wholesalers in order to maximise buying power and extend the company’s product range.

“Joining Fairway helped us immensely and we hope to keep building our customer base in the northern region, focusing on quality and service.”

Peter added that the business, set up by his father Alan and currently employing 48 people, heralded the impact that joining Fairway had had on Tyneside in boosting its performance.

“Tyneside is set up for more online and late-night business, catering for any independent outlet across our industry,” he said.

“Being a Fairway member has given us buying power to compete in the industry, the ability to develop a quality own-brand and access to a wide range of food and non-food products.”

Fairway Foodservice is a buying and marketing organisation, which operates on behalf of 20 wholesalers based in the UK, Ireland and Spain. Founded in 1984 by five frozen food wholesale distribution companies, it has grown from a collective turnover of £7m in 1984 to £801.5m in 2019.

Alongside access to Fairway Foodservice’s extensive range of products, members benefit from collective buying power on core lines, and significant marketing support.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .