AF Blakemore’s Food & Retail Solutions division has renewed its long-standing partnership with pub company Marston’s through a new eight-year contract, The Grocer can reveal.
The partnership first began in 1997 when Marston’s operated around 200 pubs. It now supports approximately 700 managed and partnership pubs across the group’s 1,300-strong estate with national multi-temperature food distribution.
The pair said the new contract, which extends their relationship until October 2033, reflected a “shared focus on continuous improvement and cost efficiency”.
Looking ahead, the partnership will focus on deeper integration across supply chain management, which the pair said would enable “more ambitious initiatives around innovation, sustainability and operational excellence”.
“I am absolutely delighted that we have extended our long-standing strategic partnership with Marston’s,” said AF Blakemore MD of Food & Retail Solutions Lawrence Shirazian.
”This renewal marks a new chapter in our collaboration, built on trust, shared ambition and a drive to deliver even greater value for the future.”
Marston’s group director of procurement David Cartwright added: “AF Blakemore has been a trusted partner for many years. Their flexibility, service levels and shared values have played a key role in supporting our growth. We’re excited to continue working together to deliver great experiences for our guests and pub teams.”
It comes after AF Blakemore was appointed M&S’s new wholesale partner in August to supply the grocer with ambient and chilled lines that supplement its own-label offering. It was a move that ended a long-term supply deal between M&S and Booker.
To meet demand for the deal, AF Blakemore ramped up investment in staff, technology and logistics infrastructure in November.
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