Having lost its usual customer base of restaurants, pubs and schools due to the coronavirus lockdown, Blakemore Foodservice is moving into the consumer market with the launch of a new click & collect service for the general public.
The service operating from Blakemore’s Darlaston distribution centre in the West Midlands offers people the chance to buy food in “family-size quantities”. There are around 200 product lines available, including store cupboard essentials, chilled and frozen food, and fresh meat and produce boxes.
A dedicated website has been set up for product browsing and order placement.
Head of Blakemore Foodservice Caoire Blakemore commented: “At this difficult time, many people are facing challenges buying essential groceries.
“Our next-day click & collect service provides a quick and easy alternative to supermarket queues and waiting weeks for online deliveries. Customers don’t even have to leave their cars – we’ll load their goods for them.”
Blakemore follows in the footsteps of other foodservice wholesalers that have turned to offering consumer services in a bid to make up some of the income lost due to the closure of the hospitality sector.
NAM Implications:
- A no brainer.
- And if they can make it work profitably…
- …no reversal.
- A whole new future?
