Customers share their views
Were caterers who attended the conference satisfied with Countrywide's performance over the past year? Here they voice their opinions:
lColin Masters, purchasing director, Compass. Value of Countrywide business: more than £20m a year.
"We use Countrywide as our sole supplier of product areas such as rice, oil, baked beans, canned tomatoes, tuna and mayonnaise but not of subsidiary items such as confectionery and snacks. Unit managers decide on whether they want Country Range or the branded product. If we're not satisfied with the own label we liaise with Countrywide and as a major client they may rethink their specifications.
"I would like them to help us make distribution more efficient. We may need to increase drop sizes, and reduce frequency of delivery while still ensuring that we meet the unit manager's needs."
lRichard Moss, purchasing executive, Gardner Merchant. Value of business with Countrywide: £80m over next three years.
"One of the attractive things I see about Countrywide is the individual member structure. Each depot isrun by a managing director and an owner. I see this asa great deal of commitment on Countrywide's part. Before last November's deal, Countrywide had about 45% of ourbusiness."
lDavid Townsend, purchasing director BET Catering Services. Value of business with Countrywide: around £4.5m per annum.
"Countrywide has got about 80% of our business. Generally we're very satisfied with the quality of the products and the service. The only problem is that they can't always keep up with our growth. It doesn't always match that they've got capacity in the area where we've just developed a large chunk of business."
lDavid Argent, purchasing manager Ind Coope Retail. Value of business with Countrywide: not revealed.
"We went over to Countrywide about a year ago from using a diverse range of suppliers when we centralised our purchasing. We use them as a sole supplier of dried goods. They understand our needs now but it's taken them a year to do so. We're very happy with the arrangement."
lMike Fellowes, divisional director, Pall Mall Services (main business - contract catering). Value of business with Countrywide: more than £300,000 per annum.
"We expect ourbusiness with Countrywide to double over the next 18 months bearing in mind that we are starting from a low base. I operate the business on the principle that individual managers are allowed to choose products to suit local requirements. I can only assume that Countrywide is being chosen more than other suppliers.
"The only thing I would say to a company which is experiencing a growth spurt such as the one Countrywide is currently going through is not to forget the old customers in favour of the larger, more attractive ones."
