The Best News

Best Food Logistics are thrilled delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for an award at this year’s Supply Chain Excellence Awards.

We have been nominated, alongside Applied Acumen, in the Technology Innovation category at this year’s event, to be held on 5th November.

Follow the link below to find out more;

2019 Shortlist

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Chris Stott, one of our fantastic National Account Managers, has been nominated by Pizza Hut for the Account Manager of the Year Award at their upcoming Supply Chain Conference.

The event is to be held on 16th October and, should he be successful, this would be the 4th time that Chris has won such an award from the clients he has worked with.

This is testament to the wonderful job Chris does, day in day out, for his clients and demonstrates our commitment as a business to being the Best in all aspects of our interaction with our customers. We cannot offer the Best service without our incredible people.

We all wish Chris the Best of luck for the conference.

Bidvest Logistics is delighted to announce that from today, 25th June 2018, it will be trading under the new name of Best Food Logistics.

Paul Whyte, at Best Food Logistics explained that the name change reflects their singular mission to be the best food service contract logistics provider in the industry; to be the Best, full-stop.

Paul commented “The name Best Food Logistics is a natural evolution from our current brand name, by creatively and simply dropping ‘idv’ from Bidvest to leave us with Best. It’s allowed us to be playful with the re-brand, and communicate our friendly and straight-forward approach. Our new website illustrates this transition in such a brilliant, and fun way. www.bestfoodlogistics.com”

“It’s what we’d like our brand to convey moving forwards – To be the best in every part of our business and make things easier for our customers and make the relationship more enjoyable. And, not only have we shortened our name, but we’re shortening our response times, with our new real-time customer service portal”.

The business has also announced that it has recently agreed new long-term contracts with well-known brands such as Pizza Express, TGI Fridays, ASK Italian, Zizzi and notably, KFC. These contract wins reflect Best Food Logistics’ unique position as the leading specialist food logistics provider. Best Food Logistics are also working on a number of exciting opportunities that will unlock long-term partnerships for further restaurant chains.

Mark Hayes, Supply Chain Director, KFC UK & Ireland also commented “We are delighted with how Bidvest seamlessly transitioned our Northern Supply Chain Operations into their Shared User Network. From day one our deliveries have arrived on time in full and Bidvest continue to provide an excellent service to KFC UK & Ireland”

There will be a short period of transition from June onwards, where the new name and logo will be introduced across the business on the corporate website, uniforms, and depot signage.

Last year Bidvest Logistics donated on behalf of our clients over £130k worth of food which would otherwise have gone to waste.

This is equivalent to 92,000 meals or feeding a meal to 250 people every single day.

FareShare, and the organisations they supply (shelters/breakfast clubs/youth centres/community groups) are incredibly grateful for the donations.

The website for more info is http://fareshare.org.uk/

Read more about the partnership here.

Bidvest Logistics is thrilled to announce that we have entered into a partnership with Toyota to provide an electric delivery truck to each of our drivers from Jan 2018.  We operate a multi drop, multi temperature distribution service to around 4000 outlets for some of the UK’s most well known and loved eating out retailers.  Each driver can deliver up to 26 pallets per day that can be really heavy and in some challenging environments.  We recognise that is a tough job.  We want to make it easier and we want our drivers to be safe.

Commenting on this, Paul Whyte who leads the Bidvest Shared User Business said:

“Our drivers are our single biggest touch point with our customers.  At Bidvest we believe that well trained, engaged, safe and happy drivers create happy customers.  For many years the distribution industry has relied upon a high % of agency drivers which has contributed to the industry being renowned for poor safety and poor customer service – we are changing this.  At Bidvest we are committed to employing our own full time drivers and creating an environment that assures their safety and provides enjoyment in the work they do.  We recognise that pulling heavy pallets around by hand does not provide that environment.  We are the first in the industry to make this change and our drivers are delighted. We are excited to work with Toyota who were by far the driver’s favourite choice for this change.  Here’s to full time safe and happy drivers and happy customers!”

Bidvest Logistics is delighted to announce that we have agreed a long term deal with leading eating out restaurant chain, PizzaExpress.

Commenting on the new deal, Spencer Playle, Supply Chain Director for PizzaExpress said:

“Bidvest Logistics is our partner of choice for our frozen foods, ambient foods and drinks logistics and just last week we agreed a deal to further extend the partnership going forward. Bidvest are a solid and reliable operator, with a great team of people who are a pleasure to deal with. It also gives me reassurance that Bidvest own and manage their own depots as well as adding contingency by being dual stocked, meaning supply could be managed in a worst case disaster scenario – I would recommend Bidvest as a logistics partner”.

Paul Whyte, who leads the Bidvest Shared User Business commented:

“I am delighted that we have secured a long term contract with one of the UK’s largest and most respected eating out businesses. PizzaExpress have a fantastic reputation in the market and are an absolute pleasure to work with. Our aim is to delight our customers through delivering industry leading service and flexibility. This factor played a critical part in our ability to agree this deal and I’m incredibly proud of that”

Bidvest Logistics is thrilled to announce we have agreed a long term deal to support TGI Fridays as they continue to generate positive momentum and growth in the UK’s eating out Market.  Fridays have carved out a superb reputation over the years and we are really pleased to be able to continue to support them.

Alyson Scott, Supply Chain Director at TGI Fridays said:

“We have a great working partnership with Bidvest Logistics and have developed excellent relationships with our dedicated account team and the wider Bidvest family.  Bidvest has taken the time to understand Fridays and the unique requirements of our brand and the way we want it to work.  The mobilisation of our business into the Bidvest network in 2016 was seamless, with no impact to our stores, and we have continued to see continuously high levels of service since.  We would recommend Bidvest as a distribution partner and look forward to continuing our relationship through the life of our new long term contract”

Commenting on the new deal, Paul Whyte who leads the Bidvest Shared User business said:

“I have a special place in my heart for Fridays and their team.  Working with Fridays is an absolute pleasure and we also learn a lot from them.  Fridays are successful in a tough market and part of the reason for this is the time they put into truly engaging their people.  With world class people engagement amazing things can happen and Fridays are doing them.  It’s also a pleasure to know that Fridays rate our industry leading service.  Our aim is to delight our customers through delivering industry leading service and flexibility – as always, this was clearly a large factor in our ability to agree this deal.  It’s a great pleasure to continue to support Alyson and the Friday’s family for the next decade”

Bidvest Logistics is delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew Foster as the new Business Unit Director for our Pret business. His appointment is effective from 1 December 2017.

Andrew has been working in the business as an interim since July and during the past four months has built up a great relationship with his colleagues at our Pret site at Hoddesdon as well as with Pret’s Senior Leadership team.

Andrew is a graduate of the University of Sheffield and Cranfield University as well as being a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport. He has extensive operational and logistical experience including as Operations & Logistics Director for a large independent dairy and foodservice business.

Of Andrew’s appointment Grant Cox, Bidvest Logistics’ Managing Director said “Andrew comes with a wealth of experience in the FMCG industry, and I am sure that he will continue to add value to both Pret and Bidvest Logistics in the future, as he has done since he has been with us.”

Bidvest Logistics and PCL are delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Winter as Business Unit Director for PCL.

PCL is one of the UK’s leading chilled distribution specialists of a diverse range of products, that include dairy and salad items in a tightly temperature controlled environment. Acquired by Bidvest Logistics’ ultimate parent company, Bidcorp in July 2014, it is shares the same Managing Director and Finance Director as Bidvest Logistics.

Paul alongside being a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport, has a wealth of experience of the logistics sector having worked over many years with the Ministry of Defence, Tesco, Waverley, Dominos Pizzas and most recently heading up the Whitbread account for Kuehne and Nagel.

Following nearly 10 years in the Bidvest/Bidcorp family Dave Hodgson is to retire as Managing Director of Bidvest Logistics and is being replaced by Grant Cox.

Speaking of Dave’s retirement, Andrew Selley, Chairman of Bidvest Logistics said “Dave has made a great contribution across both the wholesale and logistics businesses. His professionalism, resilience and personality will be greatly missed.”

Of Grant’s appointment Andrew commented “Grant is an experienced member of the wider Bidcorp team and will be joining the Bidvest Logistics team from his senior role in Bidfood South Africa. He has a wealth of experience of running logistics businesses, a sharp commercial focus and track record of achievement. In his new role Grant will be reporting directly into Bernard Berson, Bidcorp CEO.”

Grant has held senior roles within Bidfood South Africa for almost 7 years and has a track record in business transformation and improvement. A qualified accountant and graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal he has also run his own logistics and supply chain business.

As a result of a strategic review of the business, Bidvest Logistics has announced the creation of two operating business units to more fully align with its customers’ strategies and cultures.

The two business units will be ‘Shared User’ and Pret.  PCL will continue to provide services to Arla from Hatfield, Aylesbury, Bristol and Trafford Park and will remain a separate business.

The Pret Business Unit will be focussed totally on our longstanding relationship with Pret supporting their supply chain in the UK and Europe.

The Shared User business unit will provide logistics solutions for KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, TGI Fridays, Nando’s and Azzurri.

As a direct result of this strategic restructure Paul Whyte is to join the company as Business Unit Director (Shared User). Paul has significant FMCG experience having previously worked for Greencore, Molson Coors, Bighams and Cote. Most recently Paul was Supply Chain Director for EAT, where he worked directly with the Chairman and private equity backers to design and lead the implementation of a business strategy that resulted in double digit year on year sales growth, a strengthened market position and significant EBITDA improvement.