The return to the office is on the horizon. The benefits of returning to the workplace are becoming obvious to business leaders. What is going to be important to teams when they return? Food and drink will be a huge part of enticing teams back. Easy words. So how do we execute this and support the client needs, the business needs and those all-important supply chain partners?
The world of purchasing at The Genuine Dining Co. thrives in this new environment. Ten years of independence, strong supplier relationships and an entrepreneurial approach to emerging independent producers, partnered with a focus on delivering excellence to our customers, has us in an exciting workspace. Cap this off with best-in-class teams to drive and deliver on a daily basis and the easy words become highly achievable.
The supply chain has had some unique challenges over recent times. By being flexible with our strategies and stringent on our diligence the challenges have been overcome. Communication and conversation are key. We talk to our supply partners daily to explore the options and our agile mindset has brought a considerable amount of new product development into our business. By looking within our shores first, supporting local business and local economies, these changes can be made at a rapid pace. Seasonal produce is the best produce, and our local co-operative of farmers and producers keep us continually updated to ensure the teams have those products available to them.
Realistically, not all our venues are as full and bustling as we would prefer. This affects many parts of the supply chain and the environment. We are conscious of the footprint our business can leave on the planet so sharing loads and suppliers working together to minimise half load vans being on the road is a scheme we are proud to work on. Our emerging brand partners can catch a lift on an existing delivery (after compliance and suitability checks of course) to have their route to market at minimal impact. Deliveries are evolving at great pace with new ways of achieving the required outcome alongside technology that keeps all stages of the chain up to date on where produce is – for us it is an exciting evolution that will only enhance and benefit our teams, clients and end users.
Challenging times bring the best out of forward-thinking businesses and if anything, this is at our core. We look forward to meeting likeminded companies who want to hear about how we can make their workplace even better.
Bruce Richardson, Procurement Director