Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading foodservice providers, has expanded its reach in the north of England, with the opening of a new depot in Penrith, Cumbria.
The depot was acquired from Blakemore Cash and Carry and sees the transfer of experienced local staff previously employed at the site over to the Bidfood team. Alongside these employees, Bidfood will be looking to provide even more employment opportunities, from warehouse roles, to office support and drivers.
Featuring a 21,357 sq ft ambient centre and 5,078 sq ft freezer development, Bidfood’s Penrith depot will service a variety of customers within the region, including Centre Parcs and Beacon Hill School. To help streamline customer services, the depot now features a customer Click & Collect service and a Same Day Delivery option. Bidfood is also planning to work closely with local cheese and meat suppliers to offer its national customers local Cumbrian produce.
Norman Wemyss, COO at Bidfood, said, “Having started my foodservice career many years ago in Carlisle, I understand the desire that customers have to trade with wholesalers who are truly embedded within the local community. Whether that is through involvement in local projects, providing employment for local people, or supplying locally-sourced products.
“In order for Bidfood to continue to meet local caterers’ needs, it’s vital for us to offer a truly local service, with the majority of our depots no more than 80 miles away from our customers. The investment into the new Penrith depot will help us to continue to deliver this.”
Alan Joyce, General Manager at Bidfood’s Penrith depot, said, “These are exciting times for Bidfood with the opening of our new Penrith depot. Penrith is strategically placed so that we can improve our service offering into the surrounding areas of Keswick, Windermere, Carlisle, Workington and Penrith.”