Bidcorp UK has purchased Harvest Fine Foods, which began operating as a member of the Slough, England-headquartered foodservice supply specialist on January 17. Terms of the deal were disclosed.
In business since 1988, the acquired company distributes more than 4,500 frozen, chilled and ambient food products from approximately 40 local suppliers to over 1,000 catering establishments across the south of England, including Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight. Its extensive portfolio ranges from meat, fish and chicken to ready meals, breads, rolls, pizza, vegetables, fruits, french fries (chips) and other value-added potato items, ice cream and desserts.
“We are delighted to welcome the Harvest Fine Foods team into the Bidcorp family, where it will join the Caterfood Buying Group, our growing network of independent businesses including Nichol Hughes, Elite Fine Foods, Caterfood, South Lincs Foodservice and Cimandis,” said Bidcorp UK CEO Andrew Selley. “Harvest Fine Foods is a thriving foodservice supplier, achieving a compound growth of 20% over the last 12 years. It will continue operating as an autonomous and independent business, in line with the decentralized model we already successfully employ within the Caterfood Buying Group.”
“We have been really impressed by their passion, ethical ethos and reputation for providing ethically-sourced local produce, as well as great service to customers. We look forward to supporting the team with our financial and strategic strength alongside their local expertise and range,” stated Richard Strongman, managing director of Harvest Fine Foods. “We are looking forward to becoming part of Bidcorp, which shares our passion for quality products, competitive prices and unrivaled service. The team will continue to focus on the development and growth of our successful, service-led business, under the same identity and culture.”
New Depot Openings Slated
Meanwhile, in other Bidcorp Group news, Bidfood is set to open the doors of two additional distribution depots in 2023 as part of a wider plan to strengthen its current 24-strong depot network.
The first of the new sites will be based in Glasgow, covering the West of Scotland, and is set to open in the early spring. The 90,000 square foot site will operate as part of Bidfood Scotland’s initiative to expand the local depot network, supporting continued growth while helping meet the increasing demand from both existing and new customers.
Scheduled to commence trading in the autumn of 2023, Bidfood will also be opening a site in Bedford to strengthen service across the South East of England, and at 160,000 square feet will ranks as one of the company’s largest sites to date.
Both Glasgow and Bedford have been designed with the latest state-of-the-art systems, technology and fittings to support Bidfood in reducing its carbon footprint as well as continuing to work towards its target of greener depots.
A third additional depot in the Midlands has also been commissioned, however, it will not be active until 2024.
