16^th February 2012

 Burnley youngsters have a n-ice time – thanks to Birchall Foodservice

Children at a Burnley community centre had a “cool” time at the opening of their new ice cream parlour.

Birchall Foodservice donated tubs of ice cream, wafers and gateaux to celebrate the launch of the retro café at the Fraser Street Project, in a deprived area of the town.

The youth zone at the centre was transformed into a London-themed eaterie, thanks to Manchester-based shop fitting company, Styles and Wood, as part of their annual community challenge.

The Fraser Street Project was set up by mums Fran Monk and Amanda Chapman in 2002, initially to address the lack of youth provision in the area. It has since evolved into a thriving community centre for people of all ages who live in the deprived area of Burnley. Facilities include a computer room, music room, recording studio, crèche and community kitchen, and supporters of the centre include HRH Prince of Wales.ge.

Fran said: “This centre means so much to our local community and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who has helped us to make it happen. It’s absolutely amazing to have something so vibrant and fun that brings people into the centre and lets us engage with them – and help and support them.

“At this time last year we had 94 individuals using the centre in a two-week period and, for the same period this year, we’ve had 159 people.”

Birchall Foodservice MD Colin Birchall, who is chair of the centre’s management committee, said: “Fran and Amanda and all of the volunteers at the Fraser Street Project are doing an amazing job, and Birchall Foodservice are more than happy to help in any way we can to ensure this fabulous community resource continues to thrive.”

Colin Birchall is pictured with Amanda Chapman (left) and Fran Monk

23rd January 2012

‘Chill out’ with Birchall Foodservice

 Customers of Birchall Foodservice have even more reason to be “chilled out” – after gaining access to over 750 new food products.

Sandwich fillings, speciality breads, juices, compound salads, meat products and cakes are among the new products being offered to the expanding customer base.

The thriving family business has introduced the new additions to their chilled product range following the recent acquisition of Wrexham-based Willow Fresh Foods.

The acquisition has allowed the Lancashire-based foodservice company direct access to major chilled food suppliers – including Calder Foods, Village Bakery, Purity Drinks and local dairies.

Keith Horner, sales and buying director for Birchall Foodservice, said: “The acquisition of Willow Fresh Foods has allowed us to massively expand our dairy and chilled range and secure specialist sources of supply and expertise.

“This means that both Birchall Foodservice and Willow Fresh Foods customers gain access to what is now one of the most comprehensive, next-day delivery, multi-temperature range of foods for caterers available in the North of England and Wales.

“All product ranges, including non-food, are delivered on one vehicle – therefore helping to reduce the carbon footprint.”

On Friday (January 20) over 50 staff from Birchall Foodservice attended a roadshow, where they met the new suppliers and were able to learn more about the new products.

The new range will be available to customers from February 1 and can be ordered via the telesales team in the normal way.

 Editor’s Notes

Birchall Foodservice is an independent, family-owned business with depots in Burnley, Durham, Sheffield, Stafford and Wrexham.

The company was established in 1939 and is a founder member of the Country Range Group.

For more information, please contact Janine Nelson at Hakima Communications on 07989 307405 or email Janine@hakima-comms.co.uk

Lancashire-based Birchall Foodservice is expanding its operation in Wales following the acquisition of Willow Foods Ltd.

The company, which already has depots in Llandudno, Burnley, Durham, Sheffield and Stafford, purchased Willow Foods Ltd on October 1 for an undisclosed sum.

Willow Foods Ltd is a private independent company, which was set up by Malcolm Acott in 1992 and specialises in the sourcing and distribution of quality chilled and fresh foods – an area Birchall Foodservice are keen to develop.

Birchall Foodservice plan to retain Willow’s identity and will continue to operate out of its purpose-built premises in Wrexham. Former MD Malcolm Acott will maintain his involvement and interest in the business going forward.

Colin Birchall, managing director of Birchall Foodservice, said: “We already supply customers in Wales on a foodservice basis and this is a natural expansion to our customer base.

‘Willow customers will now get immediate access to our extensive product range and service delivery, as well as all of the benefits that come from being a member of the Country Range Group, whilst Birchalls can now offer expertise in chilled and fresh foods to customers across the north of England, so everyone gets the best of both worlds.”

The company will trade as Willow Fresh Foods and Birchall has ambitious plans. “Our first target is to double turnover in Wales,” he said.

This latest project follows a massive expansion scheme at Birchall Foodservice’s headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire.

Work was recently completed to build a 10,000 sq ft extension to provide additional bulk storage, as well as an extension to the goods-in area. It was followed by a second extension to increase the size of the freezer by 2,500 sq ft, making total warehousing space of 32,000 sq ft. The work is all part of the company’s bid to reach its goal of £20million turnover this year.

Former MD of Willow Foods Ltd, Malcolm Acott, said: “I’m very excited to be involved in the company in its new phase of development. Not only are the two companies’ product portfolios and services complementary, perhaps more important is the ethos of the principle directors. It’s on the basis of this shared empathy that this development has come to pass.”

Editor’s Notes

Birchall Foodservice is an independent, family-owned business with depots in Burnley, North Wales, Durham, Sheffield and Stafford.

The company was established in 1939 and is a founder member of the Country Range Group.

For more information, please contact Janine Nelson at Hakima Communications on 07989 307405 or email Janine@hakima-comms.co.uk

Work is currently under way to build a 10,000sq ft extension at the company’s headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire. The extension will provide additional bulk storage, as well as an extension to the goods-in area.

Once work is complete on the warehouse extension later this month, a second extension will commence, this time to the company’s freezer unit. This will increase the size of the freezer by 2,500sq ft, making total warehousing space of 32,000sq ft.

Justin Birchall, commercial director, said: “Sales of frozen product are up 33% year on year so we needed to increase our storage capacity to support this, as well as to accommodate our growing frozen product range.

“These two extensions will allow us to reduce our reliance on outside storage and bring everything under one roof, which, in turn, will allow us to operate more efficiently.”

The expansion programme has been prompted by the desire to exceed customers’ needs, says Birchall. “The extensions were necessary to facilitate our future growth. Our turnover has increased by over 13% in the last 12 months and we are confident that our turnover will exceed £20m this year. It is therefore imperative that we have the facilities in place to support this and be able to continue to give our customers the high level of service they have come to expect.”

Happy New Year

For those of you who work in the hospitality sector, you’re no doubt feeling shattered after the hectic Yuletide festivities and are ready for a well-earned rest.  And those of you who have managed to get a bit of a break, I hope you are feeling suitably rejuvenated and ready to face the busy year ahead.

2012 is going to be a very exciting year for the UK with the long-awaiting Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. I hope you are gearing up to make the most of these opportunities.

 The Country Range Group is also celebrating its 20-year anniversary and Stir it up is embarking on its fifth year of production too.  My, how time files!

 We’ve been busy making a few changes over the festive period and have introduced a new-look Promotions supplement.  Find out more on page 5.

We’re also introducing a new feature called The Melting Pot (see page 6) but, worry but, we’ve kept all your favourites, such as My Signature Dish, which this issue features TV wine critic Oz Clarke.

On that note, let’s raise our glasses and say a toast – here’s to a successful 2012!

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