A former supply chain manager has set up a successful independent home delivery service after becoming disillusioned with the UK supermarket sector.
Managing director Rick Sanderson established buy-LOCAL.net in December 2005 in an effort to give the people of Bedfordshire a fresh, convenient option and decrease the dominance of supermarkets in the area.
buy-LOCAL.net is a franchised business that runs under the strapline Local Food is Better by Miles, with a strong emphasis on supporting local growers and independent retailers by offering home deliveries each day.
Sanderson told freshinfo: “We have no main storage unit, just keeping stock in the van on the day. Initially it was a treasure hunt, casting a 30-mile radius around Bedford and searching out local producers and shops.
“Before this, I worked as a supply chain manager and the more I got involved with the big four, where it was all about doing it for cheaper, the less I liked it. Then I had a terrible day where 18 months' hard work was just dismissed. I came home and stopped in to shop at my local supermarket.
“It was at that point I realised what I was doing and that they didn’t deserve my custom. We have studied the demographics of the area, started dealing with the catering trade and worked on building an efficient model to attract franchisees.
“With a lot of people being made redundant at the moment and wanting to work for themselves, we offer them an excellent option. In the US franchising is massive, worth around $1,800 (£1,120) per head, as opposed to £52 in the UK.”
buy-LOCAL.net offers full training in sales and marketing, product knowledge, website building and administration to its franchisees. The company intends to develop its foodservice business franchisees and look to increase business further afield in the coming year.
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