New member corner: Disaronno and Caterers Choice

The latest FWD supplier members grab their chance to explain what they’re offering to the wholesale sector

Bertoye Denty, Business Account Manager (RTM Off Trade), Disaronno (above left)

Steve Farmiloe, Sales Director, Caterers Choice (above right)

You have to make an elevator pitch about your company. How would you describe it?

BD: Disaronno International UK is the (perhaps not so) new subsidiary for Disaronno, Tia Maria and more. We’re the UK arm of Illva Saronno Holding, an Italian MNE in spirits, wines and other divisions beyond alcohol. Disaronno and Tia Maria are both household names, with Disaronno having a history dating back to 1525 and the Italian Renaissance and Tia Maria being a staple for coffee liqueur lovers – even used in the first espresso martini recipe more than 40 years ago.

SF: Family owned and operating for more than 30 years, Caterers Choice is a seasoned importer of canned and ambient foods from around the world. We supply our foodservice, wholesale, manufacturing and retail customers with own, customer and supplier branded goods across a range of categories including tuna, tomatoes, vegetables and fruit.

What are the latest goings-on within the business?

BD: It’s an exciting time for the business as we have been successful in driving our core range as well as line extensions and bringing new brands to the UK market from the Illva Saronno range.

Disaronno and Tia Maria continue to outperform the liqueurs and creams category.

Innovations such as Disaronno Velvet and Tia Maria Matcha have performed well, backed by strong marketing campaigns on TV and with influencers including Becky Hill and Mae Muller.

SF: As a team, we’re 100% customer-driven with two key areas at the forefront of our current agenda: product availability and helping our customers manage food inflation.

Over the past two years, we’ve invested in our supply chain to ensure we’re closely monitoring market demand, planning accordingly and ensuring we have the right stock in the right place at the right time.

Alongside ensuring product availability, we’re striving to identify ways we can help our customers manage food inflation. This involves utilising the full width and breadth of our supply base to find the best value solutions for our customers.

What can you offer FWD’s membership and the wholesale sector?

BD: We offer a range of high-quality premium spirits, bringing growth opportunities and incrementality to the category. The wholesale and convenience channel are paramount for our business. Therefore, we continue to support FWD’s membership with competitive deals and support, while working collaboratively to achieve mutual business growth. We appreciate this channel is different to and no less important than multiple grocery and work closely with wholesale on a tailor-made approach best suited to the channel.

SF: We strive to be the supplier of choice for quality canned and ambient products at competitive prices, delivered to our customers on time with great attitude. We pride ourselves on our expertise and sharing our knowledge with our customers, working collaboratively to achieve this.

Are there any innovations in the pipeline you’d like to shout about?

BD: The Busker is a new Irish whiskey made at the Royal Oak Distillery in County Carlow.

It’s the only Irish distillery where the grain, malt and pot still are all distilled under one roof – all coming together to make the blend, the flagship SKU.

Engine Gin is a craft organic Italian gin in a tin, produced in small batches with Italian botanicals and bottled in a unique motor oil can. Watch this space for further launches, including a Sicilian wine range.

SF: The sustainable and ethical sourcing of products is an ever-important area for both us and our customers. The market sectors we work with are continually changing, with new and exciting options becoming available. By working closely with our customers, we can ensure that the products being sourced meet the values of their organisations.

Bertoye Denty Caterers Choice Disaronno FWD members Steve Farmiloe