Suppliers to benefit as James Hall hosts day of collaboration

More than 20 fresh food suppliers for SPAR North of England stores came together at the wholesaler for a day of inspiring ideas, company updates, and networking opportunities

Hosted at James Hall & Co. Ltd’s SPAR Distribution Centre at Bowland View in Preston, the comprehensive session included a chance to share new ideas supported by insight into sector trends, innovation with deals and varieties on fresh lines in SPAR stores, and merchandising concepts that are being trialled in-store.

Suppliers also heard more on the seasonal ranges that are being implemented in SPAR stores across the North of England and the positive impact it is having on sales performance, coupled with the great effect linking inspirational recipes to fresh produce is delivering at the till.

As well as a warehouse tour, other updates included store development examples from across James Hall & Co. Ltd’s G&E Murgatroyd company-owned SPAR store estate and SPAR independent retailers.

Wilf Whittle, fresh trading manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “I have been wanting to host a day for our valued fresh food suppliers ever since the pandemic. It is a way of thanking them for their support through exceptionally challenging times and to provide them with a vision of what we are trying to achieve as a business so that we are better aligned.

“We had a brilliant mix of suppliers who have supplied James Hall & Co. Ltd for varying lengths of time from several decades, through to a few years, down to brand new growers whose produce was going into SPAR North of England stores in the same week.”

Steven Kay, commercial director of Huntapac Produce Ltd at Tarleton, Lancashire, said: “We supply James Hall & Co. Ltd with carrots, parsnips, and swede and the relationship is one of our longest standing at 35 years. Wilf is a pleasure to deal with and the strength with Halls is that is a like-minded business.

“It has been an excellent day. We want our customer numbers to grow, and the updates on future store openings, the backing produce within stores, and information on fast-growing areas are all music to our ears.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.

Spar SPAR North of England Supplier collaboration Wilf Whittle