Food wholesaler offers deal for Our Bury St Edmunds businesses

Food and drink businesses within Our Bury St Edmunds have been offered a new partnership with major food service company Thomas Ridley. Based on the outskirts of the town and employing 275 local people, the company has joined forces with the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation Our Bury St Edmunds to help hospitality businesses in the town centre bounce back from lock down.

The partnership followed the publication of the Government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lock down and will focus first on items associated with outdoor service which is permitted from April 12. It will also give eligible businesses extended credit and a reduced minimum order.

Our Bury St Edmunds has partnered with Thomas Ridley to support town centre businesses. (picture credit: Thomas Ridley)

Group Managing Director at Thomas Ridley, Justin Godfrey said: “The hospitality sector, ourselves included, has been turned upside down and shaken by the pandemic and we are committed to helping small and large firms in our own community come back even greater than pre-pandemic. Working with Our Bury St Edmunds as part of its Bury’s Bouncing Back campaign we can help remove some of the risks they may face coming out of lock down.”

Thomas Ridley is one of the UK’s leading independent delivered food wholesalers, with over 100 years’ experience. As part of the deal hospitality-related BID members will be given groupage pricing so if one BID business negotiates a special price it will apply to all. Items to help their sales opportunities will be promoted as each element of lockdown restrictions are eased.

Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds Mark Cordell added: “I was delighted to be invited by Thomas Ridley to look at a partnership that would benefit BID members. We’re all aware how hard hospitality has been hit and initiatives that make the re-opening process easier and more cost-effective are very valuable at this time.”

Thomas Ridley offers over 10,000 products, 600 suppliers and 1,000 brands. They cover everything the sector needs for new season menus, back of house supplies as well as takeaway packaging. For more information visit www.thomasridley.co.uk.