DRINKS INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS

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News from the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industr y Suppliers Association

VOL 5

ISSUE 2

Summer 2023

Chris Bayliss BFBi National Chair

This is my final editorial as Chair of this fantastic organisation and as I look back over the two years that I have had the honour of holding this position I am struck with just how much our industry has endured in that time.

From the uncertainty, and often fear, of the COVID pandemic that pretty much decimated our sector with lockdowns, establishing a “pavement café” culture and the slow crawl back to recovery through the lack of consumer confidence as the world began to turn seminormally once again, to the most recent cost of living crisis which has seen our customers reducing their spending On the way we had the lack of availability of staff, various supply chain crises (including the infamous 3-point-turn in the Suez Canal) and the sky rocketing energy and raw material costs

However, our industry has survived, although we may look a little different to pre-pandemic with the proliferation of QR codes, adapting our operating model to serve the needs of our customers to order via apps and have our products delivered to their door to consume at home and hastily adapted menus to reflect product availability on the day Once again, this has demonstrated to me the resilience our sector has and the adaptability of all our members to embrace new trends, change our business model and continue to serve the consumer in new and inventive ways As I reflect on the past two years, I must thank Robinson’s Brewery for their continued support at all events whilst also hosting the Chairman’s dinner in 2022 Moving forward I will certainly continue to support the BFBi from the wings, and I encourage all members to consider joining the committees that plan and host events to promote networking within our society.

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Drapers Hall in London on June 27th for the National Lunch where I will officially hand over to my good friend Andrew Jeans, Managing Director of Industrial Trading Solutions, as my successor as Chair and I’m sure you will join me in wishing him well as he takes up this role and works with the committees to take the BFBi to new heights.

So, thank you for your support during my time at the helm, it’s been an honour and a privilege – Cheers!