CATERING wholesaler and supply firm Brakes has opened a new Scottish depot offering its customers access to a kitchen development facility and promising the expansion of the range of Scottish produce it offers.
The Newhouse depot in North Lanarkshire opened for business earlier this month on a new 172,000 square foot site.
The new depot houses a purpose-built development kitchen which Brakes said it will use to offer product demonstrations and menu planning to its Scottish customers.
The firm said the new depot is also “good news for Scottish suppliers” as Brakes has plans to expand its existing range of Scottish products, currently sourced from over 80 suppliers, which it claims contributes £68 million to the Scottish economy.
Brakes described the new depot as a “state-of-the-art, multi-temperature depot” due to its climate controlled storage space which comprises ambient, frozen and chilled storage spaces.
The wholesaler said this arrangement of storage allows the firm to offer its customers multi-temperature deliveries across Scotland, “with a single order on one system, one delivery on one vehicle, all on one invoice”.
The Newhouse depot is said to employ around 340 staff and forms part of a £125 million investment from Brakes into its UK operation over the next five years.
The new depot is also said to be fully accredited to the International Organisation for Standardisation’s environmental management system (EMS) criteria – meaning that the new depot has been built in accordance with a policy concerning environmental protection.
Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Brakes Group, said that opening the new depot “exemplifies our continued commitment to Scotland”.
“Newhouse shows our dedication to delivering an outstanding service-based experience, which aims to
help our customers thrive,” said McMeikan.
“We are committed to reducing energy emissions wherever possible and are very proud that the opening of Newhouse as another fantastically streamlined and efficient facility which continues to make Brakes depots the most sustainable in the foodservice industry.
“Our customers in Scotland will reap the benefits of this tremendous multi-functional multi-temperature depot, not least by streamlining the supply chain to minimise deliveries which also reduces road miles and reliance on fossil fuels, as well as increased accuracy of orders and reduced administration time and costs.”
