Retailers will be able to access more services from JJ Foodservice, as the foodservice wholesaler has identified the convenience sector as an ongoing growth area.

When the government imposed Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on catering and hospitality last year, foodservice wholesalers such as JJ temporarily lost trade from a number of their customers.

However, the firm saw an increase in independent retailers as customers, due to availability issues in the grocery sector during the initial stages of the pandemic.

JJ Foodservice offering more convenience-friendly pack formats

JJ Foodservice chief operating officer Mushtaque Ahmed told Better Retailing the company had seen a 10% growth in the number of independent retailers it worked with between March and December. “We had to find a new way of expanding our customer base because much of the existing trade we served had closed.

“The public could buy directly from us through a new service and we discovered there were a number of convenience stores near them who had difficulty securing supply.

Foodservice wholesalers come to the rescue of retailers

“We wanted to offer a helping hand and convenience retailing is an area we want to continue working in.

“We will still offer products in smaller pack sizes. It’s not something we had done before, but we’ll continue this.

“We can also offer training on health and hygiene, alongside advice on improving food-to-go services.”

Find out more on our coronavirus information hub for retailers