ONE of Britain's largest independent food wholesalers has chosen Southampton for the site of one of its 15 new flagship depots

BB foodservice – formerly Bestway Batleys foodservice, part of the UK’s largest independent wholesaler Bestway Wholesale – has chosen the Talbot Road site as a "powerhouse" for the newly rebranded BB foodservice, which is aiming for national turnover growth of 16 per cent in 2017.

The Southampton depot, which opened in 1999, currently employs around 75 local people, a figure that’s forecast to increase, say BB.

Anton James, the site’s general manager, said: “We supply just short of 2,000 businesses within a 100-mile radius, making around 300 deliveries every single week. And we expect those figures to increase, as we grow the number of businesses we supply with a wide range of food and drink products and a local, personal service.”

Martin Race, managing director, Bestway Wholesale, added: “This isn’t just about delivering quality products at competitive prices. From recipes, tools and calculators to our tailor-made wine list design service – our support doesn’t end at the door. Whatever our customers need, our territory sales managers in Southampton are just a phone call away. And they relish a challenge.”

BB delivers beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, as well as an extensive range of chilled, ambient and frozen food to pubs, restaurants, outdoor caterers, hotels, B&Bs, care homes and schools.