New Products: 

This year saw the introduction of over 300 products to our range, featuring premium selections from renowned suppliers like Ballylisk Cheese, French Village Bakery, Leathams Charcuti, and Coup de Pate desserts. Additionally, our collaboration with Green’s Cuisin’easy and Henderson Kitchen brought key solutions-based meal options, enriching our diverse product offerings. 

Christmas Campaign - "Effortless Magic": 

Our recent "Effortless Magic" Christmas campaign was a testament to our commitment to support, ease, and convenience, alleviating the stress for chefs and caterers during the festive season. We aimed to help them deliver the magic of Christmas to their menus, embodying the spirit of the season. 

Barista Bar Expansion: 

Barista Bar, our award-winning flagship coffee-to-go brand, has expanded its footprint with the launch of 18 new sites across Northern Ireland.  We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with SPAR Scotland- CJ Lang, bringing Barista Bar to a total of 104 company-owned stores in addition to a number of SPAR independent retailers.  

Our partnership further extends to 47 sites within the East of England Co-Op, and we are excited to announce the addition of a new site at Chelmsford Station. The dual Barista Bar stand was successfully installed on the 11th of December, marking another milestone in our ongoing relationship.

CATEX & Food Shows: 

Our presence at CATEX and regional food shows marked a significant return to in-person interactions, showcasing our commitment to face-to-face engagement. With over 30 suppliers, a live kitchen, and theater demonstration areas, we discussed new products, trends, and positive solutions with our customers. 

Charity Initiatives: 

Our team's unwavering dedication to charitable causes continued this year, (with our total currently sitting at £22,000) with a range of activities supporting Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, PIPS Charity, and other worthy organizations. Together, we made a meaningful impact through sweepstakes, raffles, volunteer work, abseils, ultra-marathons and various challenges. 

Natasha’s Foundation Charity Partnership: 

Our collaboration with Natasha’s Foundation, facilitated through CRG, underscores our commitment to making a positive impact within our communities. 

Future Chef: Supporting Culinary Talent 

For the second consecutive year, we proudly sponsored the FutureChef competition, celebrating the culinary talents of young individuals. Our support played a role in Kristen Nugent, a student from Northern Ireland, securing the winning trophy in the National Finals for 2023. 

Exceptional Service Levels: 

We are pleased to report an outstanding service outbound product level of 99.27% for end of November 2023, showcasing our commitment to excellence.  

Supply Chain Updates: 

To enhance overall product availability, we increased our stockholding by approximately 15% in the past 12 months. 

Infrastructure & Technology: 

Investing £312,000 in 14 new vehicles, alongside substantial refurbishments to our demo room, reflects our commitment to operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Additionally, we continued to invest in our e-commerce platform, earning us the prestigious title of Best Overall Ecommerce Website at the Irish Ecomm Awards 2023. 

People 

We continue our progress in fostering a workplace of excellence and growth. Our team has expanded from 440 to 466 employees, reflecting our commitment to building a strong and thriving workforce. Notably, we’ve provided over £4,470 in employee Reward & Recognition “VIP Awards” and invested significantly in training and development programmes across sales, management, apprenticeships as well as a learning management system available for all employees. This collective effort underscores our dedication to being an employer of choice. 

Our achievements have been recognized by prestigious institutions, including Deloitte, IIP, Irish Ecommerce Awards, Institute of Hospitality, and most recently, 2 wins at the FWD Gold Awards 2023. 

Exciting Prospects: 

Looking ahead to 2024, we anticipate launching the Barista Bar App and online shop (along with exhibitions at National Convenience Show and Spar Scotland Trade Shows), participating in conferences like IFEX, introducing new brands and innovations, and making further capital investments in digital, fleet, and operations. Our commitment to ongoing investments in our people and structures remains unwavering.