Welcome to the April issue of Wholesale Manager. The UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste, FareShare, has revealed that it redistributed the staggering equivalent of a quarter of a billion meals (250m) throughout the Covid pandemic. FareShare takes delivery of surplus good-to-eat food, which is unsold or unwanted by the food industry, sorts it in one of its 30 regional warehouses, and passes it onto a network of nearly 10,500 charities and charity groups. Between March 23rd, 2020, when national lockdown measures were first announced by the UK government, and 24th February 2022, when legal restrictions relating to Covid-19 ended, FareShare provided 105,000 tonnes of food to people going hungry across the UK.
Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading foodservice providers, has revealed its plans to assist its customers in understanding and adhering to the new legislation on calorie labelling. From 6th April, new government legislation will come into effect that introduces requirements to calorie label on menu items. Businesses that have, or exceed, 250 employees will be required by law on printed, display or online menus to label the amount of calories per dish or portion.
Nisa’s independent retailers have together raised more than three-quarters of a million pounds for a charity that helps to fund clean water projects. On World Water Day (22nd March), latest figures reveal that Nisa partners have collectively raised £751,000 since becoming part of the Co-op Group in 2018. This sum has been donated to The One Foundation, contributing to the global initiative investing in clean water, sanitation, and hygiene around the world.
Today’s supply chain issues around availability and logistics have highlighted the restrictions of the traditional wholesale model, according to an industry-wide survey of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesale businesses. More than 73% of UK wholesalers have identified eCommerce development and transformation as the most strategically important area for their business, said the survey by French e-commerce software company Mirakl and Foodservice Online in association with the Federation of Wholesale Distributors. In an Industry Focus interview, Marc Teulières, EVP, Customer Success B2B at Mirakl and James Bielby, Chief Executive, FWD tell Wholesale Manager why foodservice wholesalers should consider a customer-centric marketplace that meets, or exceeds, customer expectation, offering choice, value, convenience and speed.
Refresco sees Mr Freeze, the UK’s No.1 freezepop brand with a 77% market share, as one of its key brands. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, the brand offers a guilt free alternative to other snacking options which are high in sugar and calories. Terri Cooper, Senior Brand Commercial Manager at Refresco, tells our Supplier Spotlight page what trends are driving the freeze pop market and how wholesalers can maximise sales of Mr Freeze.
Enjoy reading the issue.
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