Fresh solution for local food distribution
A new company offering a creative solution to the problem of distributing locally sourced food to supermarkets has been launched.
Trans Fresh, the brainchild of sandwich supplier Clive Hallam and business partner and wine importer Nick Davies, has just picked up the contract to distribute locally sourced food to a clutch of Budgens stores in the east Midlands.
Products from small suppliers in the region will be delivered to Trans Fresh's unit at Southglade food park in North Nottingham, consolidated and delivered on to stores, said Hallam. "The supermarkets all talk about local sourcing, but the distribution infrastructure is not there to support it. The last thing they want is 20 vans turning up at a busy store to deliver local produce. Stores just aren't designed to take large numbers of direct deliveries anymore.
"However, it's not cost effective for a small supplier to drive less than a pallet-load of goods to supermarket regional distribution centres miles away from his factory. We're offering retailers a complete range of locally sourced products on one truck with one invoice."
East Midlands Food & Drink Forum manager Keith Taylor said: "Distribution is one of the biggest problems for locally sourced food. There must be a more efficient way of getting it to stores."
