Supply chain

Free consultation

Menzies is offering Scotland Food & Drink members a free consultation and tailored rates to suit your distribution needs, regardless of company size or delivery. Menzies is also offering members an open invitation to visit our sites and view the operation.

As one of the UK’s major logistics providers, Menzies Distribution enables companies to optimise value from their supply chain activities. The business specialises in providing contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, systems integration and added value services to a wide range of customers and long-term partners. Its diverse capability also means it can share best practice across the various industry sectors in which it operates, from FMCG to automotive – turning supply chains into strategic advantage.

Menzies operates from more than 100 sites across the UK and Ireland, distributing over 29.5 million units across its network every week, to more than 30,000 locations each day, including food and drink, newspapers and magazines, retail stock, healthcare consumables and parcel delivery services. Employing almost 5,000 people and operating with over 4,200 vehicle assets, the Menzies Distribution Group has an annual turnover in excess of £1.2bn.

With quality and customer service at the heart of what we do, working with Menzies we guarantee you:

• a dedicated food and drink sector experienced account management and planning team
• BRCGS and Organic Storage certified sites – meaning safe, compliant storage and movement of raw and finished products

For more information visit: www.menziesdistribution.com or email sales@mdgrp.com.

Drac Logistics Ltd is an International Freight Forwarding company situated in Falkirk, just ten minutes from Grangemouth port and situated perfectly for Rail and Airport departures.

We offer Ambient & Temp Controlled freight services via Air, Sea, Rail & Road. Whether it be International, Domestic or even Courier services that you require, we have you covered throughout all postcodes in Scotland.

Our aim is to get your products to market in a timely but cost effective way while maintaining customer/client satisfaction

The offering of a Weekly Collection service from IV-AB offers an ideal solution for a groupage service.  We consolidate on the central belt allowing you to ship your cargo with other like-minded business in the food/drink sector.

Drac Logistics Ltd ensure that we take the time to understand your business so we can offer a personalised, tailor made service supporting you with every element of the shipping process whether that be customs matters, to finding fast & reliable services, having full visibility of your shipment via our online portal or even dedicated account managers who are able to offer guided support, we really do have your business requirements at heart.

For more info visit:  http://draclogistics.co.uk

We’re here to solve the problem of surplus, and have been doing for almost 50 years across various locations in England.

We take stock (both food and non-food) from retailers and manufacturers who in turn see a return on their surplus, and then we redistribute them to our Company Shop member only supermarkets where they can enjoy great discounts on high quality big brands.

Some of the money we make helps us run our social enterprise, Community Shop which was created to help people in deprived areas to feed their families and learn new skills to improve their lives.

So while our members are saving some pounds taking advantage of our unique stores, they’re also supporting people who need it most and saving the planet too.

Membership is free and open to employees who work in the FMCG supply chain.

So please, we NEED your surplus stock. Help us bring the Company Shop Group experience to Scotland, help us share the good with as many of your people as possible, and help us save perfectly good products from going to waste. Your input can make a real difference.

Enquire about membership eligibility or selling your surplus today, contact Mark Don (Scottish Business Development Executive) on:
07813 993 322 or email mark.don@companyshop.co.uk.

Gaeltel is a Smart Energy Solutions provider, with the largest suite of Smart Energy Solutions in the UK: 

• Air Source Solutions 
• Battery Storage Solutions 
• Biomass Systems 
• Combined Heat & Power Plants 
• Electrical Vehicle Charging Units 
• Factory & Device Monitoring Solutions 
• Fuel Cell Solutions 
• Ground Source Solutions 
• LED Retrofit 
• Smart Metering 
• Smart Monitoring 
• Solar PV with Solar Power Edge 
• Voltage Optimisation 
• Wind Turbines 

 Each Smart Energy Solution is designed to deliver 3 outcomes: 

1. to cut CARBON 
2. to cut CONSUMPTION 
3. to cut COSTS 

 MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT 

Gaeltel offers a Free Comprehensive Energy Review to identify which Smart Energy Solutions will deliver the highest reduction in carbon, consumption, and costs for your business. 

Gaeltel then enables you to pay for your chosen Smart Energy Solutions through the savings generated by the solutions themselves, without any additional cost to your business (and sometimes with an overall financial gain). 

To talk to Gaeltel about which Smart Energy Solutions might most benefit your own business, you can: 

• call them free on 0800 5999070 
• email them directly at info@gaeltel.co.uk 
• check them out at www.gaeltel.co.uk or www.esaas.co.uk 

Powerful Allies has been described as a “quiet revolution”, introducing hitherto unseen levels of transparency and clarity into commercial energy procurement. Our unique Open Competition Charter sets new standards in an otherwise unregulated sector, with a personal and hands-on approach to energy contract negotiation which truly reflects the needs of clients. No hidden supplier incentives or the sales targets of faceless and, in many cases, unscrupulous brokers. No hidden deals, no hidden fees, just honest and accountable contract negotiation.

Which is why Powerful Allies has been the appointed energy partner for Scotland Food & Drink for the past 4 years and is the only partner recommended by HiT Scotland. Just look at www.powerfulallies.com/clients to see the superb base of clients we have attracted throughout Scotland.

And to ensure we always provide the best possible value for money, Powerful Allies is confident that our broker commission for Scotland Food & Drink members is just half normal broker commission, and often even less.

Please just send a copy of your energy bills to charlesbarker@powerfulallies.com, and we will do the rest. No charge, nothing to lose.

Business Utilities Simplified - free surveys and assistance on your net zero journey

DB Group help to simplify the world of business utilities across our four business divisions; DB Energy, DB Water, DB Comms and DB Enviro. For Scotland Food and Drink members our DB Water and DB Energy divisions will conduct a free, and independent, review of your business’s water and energy billing and consumption in order to identify savings in both spend and consumption.

From our DB Enviro team we are offering 50% from our Future Net Zero Portal – helping members to understand, record and report their carbon consumption as they join the race to net zero and from our DB Comms team we offer you free broadband and headsets for any business ordering a 10 user cloud voice system.  

Get in touch with our sales director, David Bryce, on 07763 551 588 who can help with any enquiries. https://dbgroupeurope.com/

Boxshop are delighted to offer fellow SF&D members a no obligation review of packaging.

They have been making corrugated cases at their factory in East Kilbride for over 30 years.

They manufacture millions of boxes a year, ranging from brown outer shipping boxes to multi coloured Retail Ready Packs (RRP’s) with expert knowledge of the requirements for all the major retailers.

All manufacturing and stock holding is carried out at their BRC accredited facility in East Kilbride with additional stock holding at our warehouse and distribution site in Aberdeen.

Boxshop are delighted to offer fellow SF&D members a no obligation review of packaging they currently use and offer advice on any pack improvements and cost out opportunities available from their expert knowledge of:

• Board grade review/performance packaging
• Palletisation methods
• Pack styles / Reduction of product complexity
• Packing line efficiencies
• State of the art manufacturing
• Inventory review

Temperature Controlled Packaging

Think Inside The Box

Sorbafreeze are the chilled packaging division of Pitreavie Group, Scotlands leading manufacturer and supplier of packaging solutions.

We are the UK’s only BRCGS accredited premier manufacturer of chilled packaging systems for shipping temperature sensitive products safely door to door, delivering excellence for our customers through our expertise, innovation ,quality, value and care.

Whatever your chilled packaging requirements, we provide an extensive and versatile range of off the shelf and bespoke insulated boxes, ice packs and temperature controlled shipping solutions, all manufactured in-house, reducing customer costs and reducing product lead times. All solutions are temperature safe for up to 48 hours ensuring your products arrive in pristine condition. Meeting and minimising your turnaround time is our priority.

Sorbafreeze offer Scotland Food and Drink members a FREE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGING REVIEW along with FREE SAMPLES from their extensive range of chilled packaging solutions.

For more information visit www.sorbafreeze.com or call 01592 623 523

Packaging Reimagined - a free comprehensive packaging review

As members of Scotland Food and Drink, Pitreavie are delighted to offer fellow members a free comprehensive food and drink packaging review, conducted by our in-house experts.

With a BRCGS AA food safety rating, our corrugated packaging factory is the most modern and efficient in the country, offering unrivalled quality in design, manufacture and delivery. We are well experienced in supplying quality food and drink packaging, and understand the specific challenges and needs associated with the industry.

Providing tailored packaging solutions for a range of organisations since 2010, we are the leading independent supplier in Scotland. With sites in Aberdeen, Glenrothes and Cumbernauld, Pitreavie is home to some of the most experienced professionals in the packaging industry. Our knowledge and expertise allow us to offer unrivalled service in the manufacture and distribution of packaging solutions.

At Pitreavie, as well as manufacturing our own corrugated packaging we also specialise in:

• Sorbafreeze Temperature Control Packaging
• Flight Cases & Timber/Plywood Crates
• Sustainable Packaging Products
• Strapping
• Wraps and Void Fills
• Packaging Automation and Tooling
• Stock and Serve Solutions
• Contract Packing

For quality advice on food and drinks packaging or to request your free review today, please email sales@pitreaviegroup.co.uk, call 01592631273 or visit www.pitreaviegroup.co.uk.

Pitreavie Corrugate - Design. Manufacture. Deliver. - YouTube

Scotland Food & Drink members receive preferential 20% introductory and 10% ongoing renewal discounts on all of Acoura’s BRC (Food and Storage and Distribution) and MSC audits.

Among the certification programmes Acoura offer are BRC Global Standard for Food, BRC Storage and Distribution, MSC Chain of Custody, Organic Processing, RSPCA Assured and Quality Meat Scotland Processing.

As well as this, Acoura offer an extensive range of training and technical services. These include Internal Auditing and HACCP courses as well as Gap-Analysis and Pre-Audits for the likes of BRC.

On request, Foodmek will provide to all Scotland Food & Drink members a half day consultation at your premises, outlining current best practice and available technologies.

Scottish food and drink is flourishing; many members in the manufacturing and processing sectors are experiencing significant growth.

Foodmek have nearly 45 years’ experience in designing, developing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining food and drink processing equipment in Scotland, the UK and many countries overseas.

They understand that every customer’s requirement is different and that is why they specialise in bespoke equipment which optimises productivity within the parameters and space constraints of factory buildings.

If you are experiencing growth, production capacity issues, or equipment maintenance problems and need the early support of professional engineers who understand your issues in depth, please contact Foodmek and let them provide you with concept solutions to support your productivity.

On request, Foodmek will provide to all Scotland Food & Drink members a half day consultation at your premises, outlining current best practice and available technologies.

Scotland Food & Drink Members receive 10% discount on all training courses over the value of £500 per person. 30 minutes free consultation is offered to all Members.

Outsource Solution is a Scottish based company providing the following services to the food and drinks industry.

Microbiological and Technical Support including:

• Results interpretation, Microbiological process and supply chain risk assessment,
• Shelf life extension and durability assessment, Vulnerability assessments and TACCP
• Factory layout and design
• Quality Management System Development
• BRC Auditing and Training
• Food Safety Training

The Quality Management System development is based on fulfilling the BRC Food Standard for Food, Packaging, Storage and Distribution, Agents and Brokers and ISO22000. Outsource Solution provide facilitation and mentoring services for BRC and HACCP implementation.

They provide certificated audits and Technical Support for the following standards:

• BRC
• Organic
• SALSA
• Red Tractor
• Quality Meat Scotland
• Scottish Quality Wild Venison

Training courses:

• Certificated RSPH Hygiene Levels 2,3,4
• Certificated RSPH HACCP Levels 2,3,4 
• HACCP Refresher
• Internal Auditing
• BRC Implementation
• Food Microbiology
• Root Cause Analysis
• TACCP/VACCP Vulnerability Assessment
• BRC Approved Issue 8 Training
• Labelling Legislation
• Supplier Approval
• IOSH Health and Safety

All services can be carried out throughout the UK and internationally on site or at a training centre.

Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation – free no obligation consultation

Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation (SCFDI) based at Queen Margaret University was established in 2014 in response to demand from Scotland's food and drink industry for combined R&D and innovation space to support the rapidly expanding sector. Funding/grant assistance may be available to SMEs for innovation projects, the SCFDI can provide guidance on how to apply.

In particular, through our practical innovation support and creative business solutions we can help food and drink companies of all sizes with:

• Innovative industry focused product development from small to large projects
• Reformulation of existing products for health, sustainability, ingredient procurement or cost reduction
• Consumer testing and sensory analysis on any type of food or drink product - useful for testing out reformulation, benchmarking against competitors, sensory profiling and quality control
• Food industry focused training sessions, bespoke options available
• Food product expertise on:
  • Formulations and ingredient functionality
  • Product methodology and process
  • Ingredient & product costing
  • Product labelling – nutrition, ingredient declaration
  • Allergen advice
  • Scaling up from kitchen to manufacturing
• Industry access to our technical analysis suite with an ever expanding range of lab scale assessment equipment
• Industry access to pilot scale product development room

To receive our brochure or to set up a free no obligation consultation please contact us today; HelloSCFDI@qmu.ac.uk.

Follow us on; Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Members of Scotland Food & Drink are eligible for 15% discount.

The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health offers a bespoke service to the food industry. Their team of nutritionists and dietitians can: calculate the composition of the product; provide advice on reference intakes; portion size; labelling and help guide through the nutritional labelling legislation. They can also offer guidance and advice on when a nutritional or health claim can be made on your product. Analysis from £90 with members getting a 15% discount.

• Back of pack (BOP) nutritional labelling will become compulsory for most companies introducing the nutritional information for the first time in their packaging from 13 December 2016
• Businesses already providing nutrition information, had to comply with EU regulations by 13 December 2014
• Front of pack (FOP) nutritional labelling whilst not mandatory is recommended by the UK and Scottish Governments to encourage healthier eating patterns

SGS is the worlds leading testing, inspection and certification company.

We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. SGS can help protect your brand by minimizing risks in your supply chain with your global compliance, training, testing, inspection, auditing and certification services.

Regulatory Compliance & Advisory Services

Our technical advisory and gap analysis services support you to ensure your products and processes remain compliant with market regulations and customers’ requirements. Whether you need a one-off artwork label review, regulatory compliance advice or a bespoke Product Lifecycle Management platform we will work with you to ensure regulatory compliance, adherence to internal policies and corporate responsibility requirements.

These value-adding services can be tailored to your individual needs, helping you to understand and comply with international and locally enforced food regulations. Our services are scalable and flexible; catered to your business needs and budget, whenever you might need us, offering out of hours support, we are there when you most need it.

We offer In-house Retainer Scheme for obtaining timely professional advice on Trading Standards and Product Safety issues.

• Specialist expertise, qualified Trading Standards Officers, factory experienced food professionals, and scientists
• Secure, confidential online portal for submission of questions and receipt of advice
• Timely responses, answered within 5 workings days unless otherwise agreed
• Flexible, tailored programmes; each hour is broken down into four 15-minute blocks
• Professional Account Managers assign queries to the relevant specialists and monitor available blocks

Testing Services

At SGS, we perform a broad range of sophisticated food testing, advisory and analytical services at our labs across the United Kingdom. Our scientists have a wealth of experience and are fully versed in the many needs of the food industry, covered by extensive accreditation in the following:

• Nutrition and composition analysis
• Pesticide residue testing
• Microbiological testing
• Food allergen testing
• Mycotoxin testing
• Dioxin and PCB testing

Audit & Certification

Audits and certification against industry, national and international regulations are becoming increasingly important in todays global business environment. In addition to GFSI-recognized schemes, we offer a broad range of food safety, quality, supply chain, social, ethical and sustainability audit services.

Supply Chain & Customized Solutions

Our food supply chain management services allow you to digitise your entire food supply chain, so you can analyse and monitor your suppliers, materials and

customers. This enables you to deliver safe and responsible food products, while connecting with modern shoppers to build consumer loyalty and trust.

With our food supply chain management services, you can:

• Digitise your supply chain to collect supplier, facility, component, and country of origin data as well as accurate Bill of Materials/Bill of Substances information
• Capture compliance and business specific information
• Run comprehensive analytics to meet demands for regulatory and compliance reporting, supply chain scorecarding and geomapping

Training

SGS is a global leader in the provision of professional training, giving you access to innovative learning and development solutions tat help you assess and improve your food safety and quality standards. Our courses cover all aspects of your food value chain, including sustainability, and can be delivered in a variety of formats, including virtual and e-learning.

Contact us for more information

Visit our website:

Food Testing Services | SGS

Making the Difference, the Importance of Food Safety Services (sgs.co.uk)

Food Supply Chain Management | SGS UK

Tayl is your all-in-one staff training, onboarding, and compliance solution.

Scotland Food & Drink Members get an exclusive 10% off their first year with Tayl.

Tayl lets you:

• Access Allergens Awareness, Manual Handling, Food Hygiene and Safety Level 2 for Manufacturing, HACCP, and more essential compliance course
• Create your own training courses
• Assign courses, due dates, and policy documents to groups of staff members
• Sign documents online
• Download courses certificates

Their training is accredited by LPI learning, ROSPA, and the CPD Certification Service. 

To receive your discount, get in touch at hello@tayl.net.

15% discount on all monthly and annual subscription packages

ENSO enables businesses to benchmark and improve their sustainability performance and communicate it to customers who care.

Our focus is on creating value for businesses through sustainability and making it something which can add real value to your business, brand, and communications, while also making the planet and your community a better place.

How does it work?

ENSO is an online platform for businesses where they can:

• Create and implement their own sustainability strategy
• Track and verify their performance
• Transparently communicate their sustainability activities and initiatives to customers, employees and other key stakeholders

We will work directly with your business to create an impactful sustainability strategy and help you communicate it effectively, so you can experience all of the benefits of being a sustainable business.

Our offer for Scotland Food & Drink Members

We are offering all Scotland Food & Drink members a 15% discount on all of our monthly and annual subscription packages. We are excited to work with you and your team to make sustainability a key part of your business.

Get involved!

Visit our website to find out more information. Use the code SCOTLAND15 to unlock your discount.

Or email us directly and we can send you more information or arrange a call to show you the ENSO platform in more detail and answer any questions: impact@ensoinitiatives.com

Gaeltel is a Smart Energy Solutions provider, with the largest suite of Smart Energy Solutions in the UK:

• Air Source Solutions
• Battery Storage Solutions
• Biomass Systems
• Combined Heat & Power Plants
• Electrical Vehicle Charging Units
• Factory & Device Monitoring Solutions
• Ground Source Solutions
• LED Retrofit
• Smart Metering
• Smart Monitoring
• Solar PV with Solar Power Edge
• Voltage Optimisation
• Wind Turbines

Each Smart Energy Solution is designed to deliver 3 outcomes:

1. To cut CARBON
2. To cut CONSUMPTION
3. To cut COSTS

MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT

Gaeltel offers a Free Comprehensive Energy Review to identify which Smart Energy Solutions will deliver the highest reduction in carbon, consumption, and costs for your business.

Gaeltel then enables you to pay for your chosen Smart Energy Solutions through the savings generated by the solutions themselves, without any additional cost to your business (and sometimes with an overall financial gain).

You can view Gaeltel's case studies here.

To talk to Gaeltel about which Smart Energy Solutions might most benefit your own business, you can:

• Call them free on 0800 5999070
• Email them directly at info@gaeltel.co.uk
• Check them out at www.gaeltel.co.uk or www.esaas.co.uk

Support & Funding from Zero Waste Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland is a Scottish Government and EU funded organisation leading on Scotland’s zero waste journey. Via a range of free and impartial support and funding mechanisms for businesses and consumers, Zero Waste Scotland can help to identify cost savings and develop new business opportunities in an environmentally conscientious way.

What help is on offer?

Resource Efficient Scotland is a programme of Zero Waste Scotland and provides a range of self-help and one-to-one business support on energy, water and waste reduction. For a free food waste opportunity assessment click here. For a free energy, water and general waste audit click here. For general tools, support and funding information, visit the Resource Efficient Scotland website.

Love Food Hate Waste aims to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste and help individuals to take action. By doing some easy practical everyday things in the home we can all waste less food, which will ultimately benefit our purses and the environment too. Visit the website and Facebook page for handy hints, tips and recipes about reducing food waste at home. If you would like to host a free Love Food Hate Waste cascade training session (for 10 people or more), please email us for more information.