Uniting untapped potential at Caterfood Buying Group
Uniting untapped potential across the Caterfood Buying Group: updates from the CFBG Winter Conference 2024
150 delegates from across the eight Caterfood Buying Group (CFBG) Member businesses, and the fast-growing CFBG Central Team, attended the 2024 CFBG Winter Conference and Awards on 27th and 28th November. The two-day conference was held in a geographically central location for Members, at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Milton Keynes.
A morning of presentations from CFBG MD Phil Atyeo, Financial Controller Emma Maylor and Commercial Director Tom Workman on Wednesday 27th welcomed and aligned delegates on key business updates and recent achievements.
Over the last 12 months, CFBG has made significant progress in:
- Establishing and launching the Caterfood Collection range, which now stands at 120 specially selected, branded products, into all CFBG Members
- Working closely with preferred suppliers, to offer CFBG customers access to more than 270 exclusive brands
- Increasing its Central Team personnel across key Marketing, Buying and Technical departments, to adequately support the size and scale of the group
- A notably increased trading presence and reputation across the foodservice industry
- Welcoming its eighth and largest Member, Turner Price
- Implementing a more powerful and defined vision, mission and strategy for the future of the Group
Comments from CFBG Commercial Director Tom Workman
CFBG Commercial Director Tom Workman, appointed in May of this year, focused on the combined power and strength available to CFBG Members through acting as a united Group.
He commented: “We all know that the economy over the next 12 months is going to be brutal, and that’s why it’s so important for us to continue to work together as a strong and united buying group of like-minded people. That is what is going to help us to be more agile and more efficient than our competitors, as the fight for every single sale intensifies.
“Over the last year, we’ve been busy putting everything in place that we need to enable us to act as a serious and sophisticated buying group. We now have the most fantastic people, products and suppliers working together under one vision, and we have better aligned our systems where we can, maximising efficiencies across the Group.
“Already, that is paying dividends and putting us in a very strong position. But, where we’ll really be able to weather the storm - and set ourselves apart - is by continuing to share best practice. To continue to come together, to share all kinds of ideas, and to collaborate in new ways; to maximise any and all untapped potential from across our eight Members.
“We still have highly ambitious and exciting plans to continue on our growth trajectory: to become the biggest buying group in the UK, to acquire new Members, and to reach even more customers. We strongly believe that, together, that is still possible. Even in the challenging trading conditions that 2025 looks set to bring us. By doing things differently and in the Caterfood Buying Group way.”
Following the strategy updates, delegates met with 50 different foodservice suppliers over the two days, exploring a mixture of new lines and best sellers from across the CFBG. An important part of foodservice is ensuring that everyone is as familiar with the products, trends and developments within the industry as possible.
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