Shropshire council awards £1m foodservice deal

Shire Services, the catering arm of Shropshire County Council, has given a £1m five-year contract to Harlech Foodservices.

 

The deal calls for the wholesaler to supply a range of drinks and vending products to primary and secondary schools across a wide area of the West Midlands and Wales, as Shire Service’s remit covers Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and north Wales.

 

Shire’s offerings also include food safety advice, compliance consultancy, a range of training courses and concierge assistance.

 

Harlech, based in Gwynedd in north Wales, opened a new depot this summer in Wellington, near Telford, to enable it to serve the West Midlands area, and that presence in Shropshire was crucial in winning the contract.

 

It will see Harlech’s local fleet deliver drinks and vending snacks including products from Shropshire firm Wenlock Spring.

 

Shire Services area manager Lauren Moore said: “We are passionate about using local suppliers. Harlech Foodservice’s presence in Telford enables us to incorporate local products into our offerings, such as still and sparkling water from Wenlock Spring.”

 

Alan Souter, national account manager for Wenlock Spring, said: “It’s a privilege to contribute to the health and hydration of children while championing locally-sourced products.

 

“We’re delighted to continue supporting the UK’s network of wholesalers and education caterers with our range of spring water, which is sourced responsibly and packaged in an environmentally-friendly way, as well as working with businesses, such as Harlech, which share similar sustainability values to us."

 

David Roberts, Harlech regional account manager, added: “As a firm with a strong local connection to Shropshire it’s very important to us that the quality and nutritional value of the food and drink in schools is as high as possible and that only the best is used.

 

“We also aim to use suppliers local to the client wherever possible as that cuts food miles and ensures that the benefits of the contract are shared with the local community.”