Caterforce – A leading force in foodservice

BUYING GROUPS

With 10 members and a turnover in excess of £1bn, Caterforce is going from strength to strength as it harnesses the power of collaboration

Caterforce continues to strengthen its position as a leading force in independent foodservice wholesale, representing 10 independent wholesalers across the UK and Ireland with a combined turnover of £1.1 billion.

Together, Caterforce members deliver to more than 50,000 customers, placing the group on a par with some of the largest national players in the sector while retaining the flexibility, service excellence and regional expertise that define independent businesses.

By combining collective buying power with the entrepreneurial spirit of independent wholesalers, Caterforce offers a unique model that allows its members to compete effectively at scale while maintaining strong local relationships with their customers.

“There is no membership fee to join Caterforce, and our income distribution to members increased by 10% year on year, demonstrating the tangible value of our collaborative model,” says Gary Mullineux, Managing Director (pictured).

“In 2025, we were delighted to welcome Woods Foodservice to the group, followed by Holdsworth Foods in 2026, both exceptional family-run wholesalers with strong reputations for service excellence. Their decision to join reflects the strength of Caterforce’s expert foodservice knowledge and the commercial and strategic advantages we provide.

ADDED VALUE

“Our ethos is simple: we exist to help our members thrive. We achieve this by securing the very best commercial terms while also sharing knowledge and best practice across every level of the business, from board leadership to buying, marketing, data and, most recently, sales teams.

“In 2025, we introduced face-to-face meetings with our members’ sales directors – an initiative that has been widely recognised as delivering tangible benefits to our members. These meetings provide a valuable forum for sharing insight, discussing market trends and identifying opportunities for collective growth across the group.

“We host six supplier presentation days each year, giving members opportunities to discover and list new products, and we provide access to five exclusive, award-winning own brand ranges that give our wholesalers a clear competitive edge in the marketplace. These meetings provide an important forum for suppliers to engage directly with decision-makers across the Caterforce membership and strengthen long-term partnerships.

“We are also proud to champion people across our network, continuing to support women in wholesale and, in 2025, becoming the first buying group to celebrate senior leaders with a dedicated feature in Wholesale News.

“I am also delighted to announce that our next Caterforce Conference will be held at Silverstone on Thursday 12 November, and it is already almost sold out, a clear reflection of the strength of our group and the appetite to continue building momentum together.”

VALUABLE INSIGHT

Marketing Director Lucy Boland highlights the group’s strong supplier proposition: “One of Caterforce’s key USPs for suppliers is the group-wide digital advertising that we offer, aimed at growing brand sales across our extensive customer base. Performance is carefully measured, and suppliers participating in this activity receive detailed reports outlining views, clicks and open rates, alongside sales and volume uplift, customer count and business type targeted.

“This level of insight is hugely valuable to our suppliers, enabling them to clearly see the impact of their advertising campaigns and make informed decisions about future marketing activity. We continue to enhance and refine our reporting capabilities year on year to ensure our partners receive meaningful, actionable data.

“In addition, Caterforce produces three trend guides each year, offering further added value to our members. These bespoke guides are uniquely created for independent foodservice outlets and highlight emerging food trends, menu inspiration and product opportunities tailored specifically to the needs of the independent sector. The guides help operators stay ahead of evolving consumer tastes while also supporting our members in bringing relevant innovation and inspiration to their customers. New for 2026, we will also be taking our sales directors and selected customers on a food safari around London, exploring the capital’s most exciting dining destinations to experience first-hand the latest flavour trends and global cuisines shaping the future of foodservice.”

With commercial growth, strong membership, enhanced supplier partnerships and a conference nearing capacity months in advance, Caterforce continues to demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving success for independent foodservice wholesalers across the UK and Ireland.

HOLDSWORTH FOODS
Holdsworth Foods joined in 2026 as Caterforce’s tenth member. The company’s Managing Director Rupert Holdsworth explains the decision to join the group: “Caterforce is a natural fit for Holdsworth Foods. As independent, family run foodservice wholesalers, the members’ values and long-term vision closely align with our own. Caterforce represents true independent expertise within foodservice and that collective strength strongly appealed to us.

“We’ve been impressed by the support from the central team across every touchpoint, from buying and marketing to data and finance. There is genuine collaboration and knowledge sharing, from the board level through to every department. This expertise and shared ambition will be invaluable as we continue to adapt, grow and develop our business in changing times.”

WOODS FOODSERVICE
Joining the group in 2025, Woods Foodservice has already seen tangible benefits from membership.

Darren Labbett, Managing Director, Woods Foodservice, says: “Joining Caterforce last year has delivered real benefits for Woods Foodservice.

“Collaborative buying has strengthened our purchasing power, enabling us to secure high-quality products at competitive prices. We’re also benefiting from the marketing and sales support provided by the central team, helping us enhance our proposition and drive growth. Importantly, every member has an equal say, creating a truly collaborative environment backed by deep foodservice expertise.”

buying groups Caterforce Gary Mullineux Holdsworth Foods Lucy Boland Woods Foodservice