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Over 1000 customers - among them hotels, guest houses, restaurants, pubs, schools, hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, shops, leisure parks, outdoor attractions and caravan parks - opt for the local supplier rather than one of the nationals.
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But why? "I think there are a number of factors which contribute to our continued success" explains Managing Director Mike Watson. "Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, we go the extra mile to provide top class service to customers. For example, we are open seven days a week, with sales staff available on both Saturday and Sunday mornings to take customer orders for Monday delivery. And we offer a weekend collection service, so if a customer is really stuck for something they can call here on a Saturday or Sunday and pick it up. Now that level of service is unique in my experience. |
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"Secondly, we've made considerable and ongoing investment in our computer system, again to improve customer service. Ours is a live stock system which updates our stock position as we take an order. So if we say to a customer that we have a product in stock, we know for certain that it is there - and that's crucial for customers. The system allows orders to be taken onto the customer history screen, thus speeding up the order taking process. |
"Next, we have a wonderful team of loyal and experienced staff who know our customers and the catering business in the West Country inside out. There's a great team spirit here, and staff are committed to meeting the needs of our cutomers.
"And finally, our pricing is extremely competitive - if it is not our customers will not buy from us, however good our service is. We have the benefits of national buying power through the Country Range Foodservice Group and NISA Todays Holdings, without the colossal overheads of our larger rivals. And our customers reap the benefits."
Founded in 1972 by Managing Director and Owner Mike Watson, Ilfracombe Foodservice employs some 35 staff and runs a fleet of 8 dual temperature vehicles. Turnover is in excess of £4 million and the 1000 strong customer base, across a wide geographical area, receives an average of 2 or 3 deliveries each week.
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"We work very hard to keep our customers happy - that's the key reason we have been successful for over 30 years when others have fallen by the wayside", concludes Mike Watson.
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