Christian Salvesen, the European logistics specialist, is expanding its foodservice offering with the appointment of David Hilling as general manager, business solutions. The service provides an alternative to traditional wholesale distribution, enabling foodservice outlets to combine suppliers’ deliveries using Salvesen’s network to deal with suppliers direct.

Hilling (36) joins Christian Salvesen from Peters Food Service in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where he was sales director. Previously he worked for seven years as national account manager with food manufacturers and wholesalers Gambia Foods and Cuisine Food Service developing accounts, which included McDonalds, Pret a Manger, Scottish & Newcastle, Whitbread, Jarvis Hotels and Bass.

The appointment supports Christian Salvesen’s strategic goal to expand its business within the frozen and chilled markets, recognising a niche in the foodservice sector. Foodservice is the fourth largest consumer market, worth £27 billion per year, and has expanded by 22 per cent in the last five years. Using its chilled and frozen network of 11 depots, Christian Salvesen combines supplier distribution for foodservice chains such as Pizza Express and Agape restaurants in France and producers such as Douwe Egberts and Ben & Jerry’s.

Hilling said: “This is an exciting new proposition, which means foodservice outlets can take control of their distribution and clearly separate produce and transport costs. Combining loads on shared-user vehicles it reduces the number of deliveries that outlets need to unload and releases staff to focus on front of house. Suppliers can share vehicles and costs of deliveries and benefit from making a single delivery into an RDC rather than multiple deliveries around the country.”

Chris Bould, director of retail sales, UK, added: “We are delighted David is joining Christian Salvesen to develop business with catering customers. He brings 16 years’ experience and understanding of foodservice distribution and a strong track-record of building relations with customers in the sector.”

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