Billingham-based food service supplier Country Valley Foods has become the first North East business to join the Sterling Supergroup.
The firm, which was recently awarded AA status by the British Retail Consortium, was accepted to the exclusive buying co-operative. The Sterling brand is a recognised mark of quality within the catering sector.
Joining the Supergroup will allow Country Valley Foods to be the only supplier within the North East to offer the competitive pricing and business structure of a local business with the range and corporate identity of a trusted national brand.
The Sterling Supergroup is a group of companies from across the UK which work within the catering sector. The companies are assessed by the Sterling board, as to whether their standard is high enough to join the co-operative. All the member companies then have access to all the products within the Supergroup’s firms, widening their own range to the benefit of the customers.
Edward Munro, Managing Director of Country Valley Foods, said: “We are delighted to have been accepted as the first and only company in the North East to be part of the Sterling Supergroup. Following on from our successful attainment of AA status by the British Retail Consortium, this is another demonstration of our high quality and standards.
“We strongly feel that joining the Sterling Supergroup puts us on a level playing field with national companies including Bid Vest and Brakes. We can provide a vast range and high volume of products, just like a larger firm, but we can also offer our customers the benefit of no minimum order and delivery six days a week. We have all the perks of a large national brand with a local personality.
“Country Valley Foods already supplies a variety of fresh and frozen meat, and ambient, dried, chilled, frozen and janitorial goods to the food service trade, and now we have access to even more products for our customers.”