A look at what's new in the world of pub suppliers
Brakes on the market
Foodservice supplier Brakes has been placed on the market with a price tag of around £1.2bn.
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the American private-equity company that owns Brakes, is believed to have appointed Deutshe Bank and JP Morgan to oversee the sale.
Brakes chief executive Frank McKay, said: "Brakes is in excellent health. The business has made significant progress in achieving continued growth, market leadership and outstanding customer service."
The company, which was acquired for £434m in 2002, has a turnover of £1.6bn.
EBLEX launches Pub Club scheme
The English Beef & Lamb Executive (EBLEX)
has launched a business-support package for licensees.
The EBLEX Pub Club has been created to help members of its Quality Standard scheme maximise sales of beef and lamb dishes on their menus. To join the scheme pubs need to demonstrate that they source beef and lamb from an EBLEX Quality Standard approved supplier.
Membership benefits of the Pub Club include free promotional material to highlight key dates and occasions in the pub calendar, guidance on beef and lamb specifications to ensure consistent product quality and menu development advice.
Access to a recipe bank, featuring a range of traditional and modern dishes.
EBLEX foodservice project manager Hugh Judd said: "Essentially the Pub Club is a business partnership between caterers in the licensed
sector, their suppliers and EBLEX.
"It will also create a useful network of like-minded pub caterers who will be able to share ideas and experiences at special Pub Club events that are held throughout the year."
For more information on joining the scheme call 0800 7814221.
Heinz helps provide saucy offering
Heinz has launched a new initiative to help community pubs boost their food offering.
The company's Table Top Community scheme aims to help licensees improve table presen-tation, increase consumers' quality perception of outlets and expand profit potential by offering Heinz tomato ketchup and HP brown sauce at
the table.
After a trial at 150 pubs, one in four experienced an increase in food sales; 88% of customers noticed a change in table-top presentation, with 46% of outlets receiving positive feedback from customers. Research also revealed that eight out of 10 pubs believe stocking Heinz and HP sauce in iconic glass bottles improves the look and feel of the dining area.
Heinz is rolling out a Table Top Community kit to support the initiative. The kit includes chrome table-top holders with glass ketchup and HP sauce bottles, napkins, place mats and coasters.
For more information on how to get involved visit www.heinzfoodservice.co.uk or call 0800 575755.