Managing supplies is an integral part of effectively leveraging the annual tourism boom each summer. As rooms fill up and demand increases for seasonal ingredients, dependable food distribution becomes a vital ingredient in many successful Christmas menus, especially when you need something last minute.
Whilst dealing with large overseas suppliers may reduce costs in the short term, you can feel like your order is just a number. Countrywide Food Distributors’ CEO, Dennis Cox emphasises that you do not have to trade-off flexibility and cost. Since 1994, Countrywide Distributor’s collective business model has enabled local distributors to combine the buying power of a larger distributor, with the high levels of service typical of small, local players.
Eleven owner/operated companies each service an exclusive area of distribution; Kaans Catering Supplies in Southland and Otago, Service Foods in Auckland, Christchurch and Taranaki, Shellpack Seafoods, Seafood Specialists, Active Marketing, and Wanganui Food Distributors in the North Island and Upmarketing and Fox Distributors rounding out the rest of the South Island.
Countrywide’s region-based model allows each member to gain high levels of local knowledge, and maintain the responsive service that characterises a small distributor. Some owner-operators work seven days a week, on hand for those last-minute emergencies, invaluable during peak season.
Customers praise Countrywide’s willingness to help. ‘’The other company was inflexible with delivery times. I felt like I was putting them out if you rang and asked for something. But Countrywide members go the extra mile” said one customer after switching to Countrywide.
Countrywide invites you to view their range Christmas specials online or request a comparative price check on 20 top selling items. www.countrywidedist.co.nz
