Blakemore Foodservice is to help Spar retailers improve their food to go business by offering them catering advice, equipment and products for the first time.

Richard Harman, head of Blakemore Foodservice, told RN the business currently has a list of nearly 100 retailers it is aiming to partner with.

“It’s about sharing the resources, such as our shop fitting service and the IT system which can ease stock management. However, we don’t want to take away from what they’re already getting from the Blakemore group.

“For example, we want them to make their business more efficient by enabling them to get products they would otherwise purchase from a third-party supplier. We want to give them more direct supply arrangements and give them quicker and easier access to products.

Harman added there will also be potential franchise opportunities available to the symbol group’s retailers. “A lot of suppliers are talking to us and they’re interested in opening more franchises within the Spar chain,” he said.

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