Bidfood continues to open doors to new brands

For three years, Bidfood has run its Open Doors Programme which introduces new, innovative food and drink suppliers into the wholesale market

Since its launch, 33 suppliers have benefitted from support through the programme, which provides SMEs with expert mentoring and industry insight, using a three-step development journey to ‘nurture’, ‘champion’ and ‘accelerate’. From this, brands have secured national distribution through Bidfood, providing customers with products with sustainable credentials, as well as strong social value and authentic stories.

Andrew Allen, entrepreneur in residence, Bidfood, said: “When we launched Open Doors three years ago, our ambition was simple: to remove the barriers that often prevent brilliant entrepreneurs from succeeding in foodservice.

“What started as a question to Bidfood’s CEO, Andrew Selley, has progressed into 33 suppliers so far, each bringing something fresh and innovative to the table. These brands demonstrate why supporting SMEs is crucial for the future of our industry, and I’m excited to see where Open Doors will go.”

Some of the latest additions include Half the Story, a social enterprise supporting people who have experienced homelessness or faced significant barriers to employment. Through its bakery, Half the Story creates purpose-led biscuits, while providing meaningful jobs, skills and opportunities. Another addition is KWERKY, a powdered plant-based milk that serves as an alternative to traditional liquid plant-based milk, which helps chefs and caterers reduce waste, save storage space and simplify catering for a wide range of dietary requirements.

Nikki Garg, Founder of KWERKY, said: “Joining the Open Doors Programme has been transformative for KWERKY. It’s allowed us to connect with chefs, customers and Bidfood teams across the country. It’s helped turn KWERKY from an emerging challenger brand into a product being explored across sectors including healthcare, education and public sector catering.

“Small brands don’t necessarily need the door held open forever. Sometimes we just need someone to open it once and allow us to show what we can do.”

Andrew Allen Andrew Selley Bidfood Half the Story KWERKY Nikki Garg Open Doors Programme