The Country Range Group is on course for a record-breaking 12 months, with turnover already up 14% on 2016.
While ingredient price inflation, the value of the pound and general Brexit uncertainty have created challenging conditions across many sectors, the foodservice buying group claims a policy of inward investment by its members in the last two years has helped provide the platform for the noteworthy growth.
Investment includes the group’s 12 members adding a total of 175,000 sq ft of warehouse space in the last 18 months, the majority of which has been to increase freezer capacity, and an extra 74 vehicles have been added to the fleet.
The achievement comes as the group marks 25 years of existence.
Coral Rose, Country Range managing director, said: “It has been an amazing year on so many levels, so these latest performance figures are the perfect icing on our 25th anniversary cake. With two busy festive months still to go until year-end, this remarkable story is far from finished yet.”
She added: “Perhaps most importantly, the group and its independent members have also been investing in people this last 24 months. In total, a staggering 213 new jobs have been created in the last 18 months, and our members have also been proactive in staff personal development, with training, mentoring and graduate schemes all helping to improve, motivate and retain talent.”
The group’s members are Birchall Foodservice, Caterite Foodservice, Creed Foodservice, Dunns Food and Drinks, Essex Foodservice Group, Henderson Foodservice, Harvest Fine Foods, Ilfracombe Foodservice, Savona Provisions, Thomas Ridley Foodservice, Trevors Foodservice and Turner Price.
