Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, has launched a groundbreaking new initiative to support Britain’s independent food businesses.

 

‘Ways to Save’ is one of the largest programmes of support that Brakes has ever run and offers a range of measures aimed at helping under-pressure food businesses, at a time when many are under threat from rising employment costs in April.

 

The programme launches with Brakes’ most comprehensive cash-back offer to date, giving customers the opportunity to get money back on more than 500 Sysco Classic products, plus additional cashback extras providing up to 20% on a range of Sysco and branded products.

 

The ‘Ways to Save’ campaign will also provide supporting materials to help customers save money, for example with ways to reduce kitchen waste, ideas to reduce costs and low-cost recipe inspiration. A ‘Ways to Save’ logo will feature prominently on the website guiding customers to products and support solutions that will help them save money.

 

Paul Nieduszynski, CEO for Sysco GB, said: “We have invested in a huge programme of activity to support independent businesses when they need it most. There are many and varied challenges facing food companies and we’re playing our part by launching our biggest ever cashback campaign.

 

“We’re confident that the scale of the programme means that every single independent business will benefit, with cash in their pocket, available almost immediately so that they can use it straight away.”

 

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For further information please contact Kevin Coles – kevin@fifthdimensionpr.com or 07776026012

 

 

About Sysco 

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended July 1, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at: www.sysco.com.

Sysco in Great Britain 

As Britain’s leading national broadline supplier, Brakes delivers the highest quality fresh and frozen food and ingredients from its nationwide network of distribution centres to some of the nation’s most famous pubs and restaurants, as well as schools, caterers, care homes and hospitals.  It has the biggest range of award-winning products in foodservice.

kff and Medina Foodservice both offer a regional broadline service with a comprehensive range, delivered with a passion for customer service and local knowledge.

Sysco fresh businesses in Great Britain are led by Fresh Direct, which is the leading specialist supplier of locally and globally sourced fresh produce and dairy across Great Britain, bringing the best of the seasons to chefs’ menus, as well as the finest sourced fresh fish and seafood from M&J Fresh Seafood, as part of a consolidated delivery for many corporate customers.  The very best ingredients for chefs are available from fine food specialist Wild Harvest.

Brakes Catering Equipment provides commercial catering equipment for a variety of catering establishments and their services include a bespoke design service.

Specialist convenience supplier, Country Choice, completes the group and is Britain’s leading supplier of in-store bakery and retail foodservice products.

Sysco has 8,400 colleagues servicing more than 20,000 customers from 30 distribution centres across Great Britain.

Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, has launched Food Expo 25, two interactive exhibitions where food businesses can sample food, see chef demonstrations of on-trend food and hear about the latest developments in food cuisine across the world.

 

More than 75 leading food suppliers will be in attendance showcasing everything from drinks to snacks and plant-based to meat and fish protein, as well as desserts, alcohol and non-food, all under the historic Concorde plane in Manchester or in the impressive Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol.

 

Brakes will also be presenting products from across its entire range, alongside fresh produce specialists, Fresh Direct and food-to-go leaders, Country Choice.

 

There will be live cooking demos from chefs and category specialists, led by The Chef meets the Fishmonger, where customers can get inspiration on incorporating fresh fish and produce into springtime dishes. The MSC will also be on hand to give customers an understanding of this leading seafood accreditation scheme.

 

Also on the menu is a seminar on Ways to Save With Meat, helping customers deliver great summertime burgers without compromising on quality or taste, but helping with the cost.

 

Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “Our Food Expos have grown massively over the past couple of years and are fast becoming one of the highlights of the calendar. Bringing Sysco’s British businesses together in one place, supported by more than 75 suppliers, gives customers a real opportunity to understand how we can help them build amazing menus.

 

“Unlike traditional trade shows, customers can order any of the products on display at the Expo and have them in their kitchen on the next delivery, making an immediate impact on the menu.”

 

The Foodie Expos will take place on March 27 at the Concorde Conference Centre near Manchester Airport and April 30 at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.

 

More information and registration can be found on the Brakes’ website.

 

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For further information please contact Kevin Coles – kevin@fifthdimensionpr.com or 07776026012

 

About Sysco 

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended July 1, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at: www.sysco.com.

Sysco in Great Britain 

As Britain’s leading national broadline supplier, Brakes delivers the highest quality fresh and frozen food and ingredients from its nationwide network of distribution centres to some of the nation’s most famous pubs and restaurants, as well as schools, caterers, care homes and hospitals.  It has the biggest range of award-winning products in foodservice.

kff and Medina Foodservice both offer a regional broadline service with a comprehensive range, delivered with a passion for customer service and local knowledge.

Sysco fresh businesses in Great Britain are led by Fresh Direct, which is the leading specialist supplier of locally and globally sourced fresh produce and dairy across Great Britain, bringing the best of the seasons to chefs’ menus, as well as the finest sourced fresh fish and seafood from M&J Fresh Seafood, as part of a consolidated delivery for many corporate customers.  The very best ingredients for chefs are available from fine food specialist Wild Harvest.

Brakes Catering Equipment provides commercial catering equipment for a variety of catering establishments and their services include a bespoke design service.

Specialist convenience supplier, Country Choice, completes the group and is Britain’s leading supplier of in-store bakery and retail foodservice products.

Sysco has 8,400 colleagues servicing more than 20,000 customers from 30 distribution centres across Great Britain

Notes to Editors

Brusco Food Group is a trusted supplier of food products and quality ingredients to manufacturers, food service and retail.

For over 30 years Brusco has been searching the globe for flavoursome ingredients, produced by reputable suppliers who value quality and partnership. Brusco aspires to be the partner of choice for customers seeking value-adding, long-term supplier relationships built on a foundation of quality, integrity and service.

For further information on this news release, contact Jacqui Wren, Group Head of People for Brusco on the contact details below:

Telephone: 01386 761 555
Email: jacqui.wren@brusco.co.uk

Brigg, North Lincolnshire – Blended Products is proud to announce that its Anaerobic Digestion Carbon Dioxide – VeCO₂, has been officially certified as vegan by the Vegetarian Society. This milestone marks VeCO₂ as the first-ever carbon dioxide product to receive the prestigious Vegan accreditation from the Vegetarian Society.

Partnering with a UK-based AD plant, Blended Products VeCO₂ is made from plant-based matter. This sustainable technology is not only an eco-friendly alternative to traditional carbon dioxide sources, but it is also the first-ever carbon dioxide product to be recognised by the Vegetarian Society as fully vegan certified.

VeCO₂ enables businesses to operate more sustainably by providing an ethical, plant-based CO₂ alternative that supports both environmental and operational goals.”

In collaboration with a dedicated working group of leading experts from the biogas and carbon capture sectors, Blended Products has been actively driving progress in these fields. Partnering with a UK-based AD plant, the company has developed this innovative product.  “VeCO2 enables businesses to operate more sustainability by providing an ethical, plant-based CO2 alternative that supports both environmental and operational goals” said Caroline Hunter, Head of Commercial at Blended Products Ltd. “By opting for VeCO₂, businesses can lessen their dependence on fossil fuel-derived CO₂ and support a more sustainable future.”

The Vegetarian Society’s vegan certification guarantees that VeCO₂ is produced without any animal-derived inputs, making it an ideal choice for industries and consumers prioritising ethical and sustainable solutions. This certification provides additional reassurance to businesses seeking to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on their vegan and cruelty-free standards.

VeCO₂ offers a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable alternative to traditional CO2 sources, and its certification sets a new benchmark for eco-conscious innovation in the industry. As a versatile and highly effective product, VeCO₂ is suitable for a wide range of applications, particularly food and beverage processing. VeCO2 supports businesses aiming to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, offering a certified sustainable CO2 alternative for various industries.

For more information about VeCO₂ and its Vegan Certification, please visit www.Blendedproducts.com contact Blended Products at 01652 680555

About Blended Products.
Blended Products is an established supplier of specialty gases and liquids across the UK to a range of industries. Sustainability Todays “Chemical and Gases Company of the Year 2025”.

About the Vegetarian Society
The Vegetarian Society is a UK-based charity that has been promoting vegetarian and vegan living for over 170 years. Its Vegan Certification mark guarantees that products meet strict vegan criteria, offering consumers an assurance of quality and ethical production.

Media Contact:

Charley Christopher

Marketing Manager

Blended Products

07538025030

Charlotte.christopher@Blendedproducts.com

www.blendedproducts.com

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Total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International has registered as a Disability Confident employer through the Disability Confident Scheme.

The Disability Confident Scheme is a voluntary, government-backed initiative designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain individuals with disabilities and health conditions.

The scheme acknowledges businesses that have taken action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.

Employers participating in the scheme commit to providing equal opportunities for career development and ensure an accessible working environment as well as supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to remain in work, with the initiative developed in collaboration with employers and representatives of disabled individuals.

Oakland International Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to be part of this scheme. It’s rewarding to be able to attract those who have additional needs and face challenges in gaining access to meaningful employment.

“Being able to support them to overcome potential barriers in accessing meaningful work is humbling. We’re excited to work on the next stage in becoming a disability confident employer alongside other meaningful and value adding initiatives with our local communities.”

A sustainable business with an environmental and social conscience, Oakland International is a Certified B Corporation and an equal opportunities employer, a total supply chain solutions specialist, and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland.

Oakland International is also an expert in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service and aim to be the first business within their sector to reach net zero.

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Image L to R: Oakland International Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt, Group HR Director Nicola Harris and Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.

 

Company details:    Oakland International Limited

UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 e: sales@oakland-international.com

www.oakland-international.com

For all enquiries please contact Kathryn Watts 07970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com – If you do not wish to continue to receive press releases in the future, please let me know and I will remove your address from my distribution group.

Pukka, a brand leader in the UK pie industry, is taking a major step to enhance its production capabilities by investing in a third Starfrost Helix spiral freezer at its Syston bakery in Leicestershire. This investment is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to integrate cutting-edge technology, meet rising demand, improve quality and consistency, and boost overall manufacturing efficiency.

Scheduled for installation later this year, the new spiral freezer follows the successful addition of two Starfrost systems in 2021, underscoring Pukka’s commitment to long-term growth and innovation.

The new Starfrost Helix spiral freezer will replace an older, less efficient freezing system, safeguarding continuity of supply. The state-of-the-art technology offers several benefits, including reduced downtime and lower maintenance requirements, resulting in smoother and more reliable operations.

With the Helix freezer’s precision performance, Pukka can ensure consistent quality across every batch, preserving the taste and freshness that has built the brand’s reputation.

Peter Gull, Engineering Manager at Pukka, commented on the importance of this equipment upgrade: “The new system will provide an automated and dependable freezing process, just like our other Starfrost equipment. This latest spiral freezer will enable us to increase production throughput while maintaining the high standards our customers expect.”

As Pukka continues to scale its operations, this new freezing system will play a vital role in meeting increasing consumer demand, all while maintaining both efficiency and product quality.

-ENDS-

 

Notes for Editors:

Starfrost: Starfrost is a leading provider of cooling solutions for the global food processing industry. Since 1984, Starfrost has been pioneering cooling technology and delivering industrial freezing and chilling equipment to more than 60 countries, across 6 continents of the world.

Starfrost’s aim is to create reliable, sustainable freezing and chilling solutions with innovative, intelligent technology. Increasing productivity, reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency are at the centre of the services and equipment Starfrost deliver.

Contact details:
Lauren Stephenson – PR & Marketing

T: 01502 562206
E: laurenstephenson@starfrost.com
W: www.starfrost.com
Starfrost (UK) Ltd, Unit 11-12 Craftsman’s Way, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 3FB