The lifeblood for any café or restaurant relies on the easy access of ingredients. For this purpose, their whole business is dependent on their food suppliers/distributors. If any lapse comes in this process, then it means that the restaurant’s kitchen will not be able to serve for a few items.   

To make all the preparations, all necessary ingredients must be available on your shelf. A good food distributor is one who will take care of all these things, irrespective of the fact that the ingredients are required for a hot meal or cold salad. 

At very reasonable prices, get the fresh stock of your choice from the food distributor of your own choice. Right food supplier will make sure the timely delivery of all the food items. A good food distributor will make sure to remain compliant with the industry standards. They will make sure to keep themselves up to date with all the latest information. They will demonstrate innovation and will continuously strive to improve.  

Best food distributor that you should choose for your takeaway. 

These are some of the renowned food distributors that you can choose for your takeaway.  

• Fine Foods distribution 

This food distribution facility has a rating of 5 out of 5. Based in Manchester, UK, Fine Foods distribution is a wholesale beverage and food distribution company. They claim that their food products are second to none and are very efficient in food business.  

With a superior level of service, what distinguishes Fine Foods distribution from their competitors is their commitment towards their customers.  They treat all their customers with extreme care and do feel pride in it. Quality products and personalized service is their mission and the drive force of their business. Their number one goal is to serve their clients with utmost respect.  

• Pentagon food group 

As part of Khan group of companies, Pentagon food group was established in 2007. They are the food service wholesaler supplying to restaurants, takeaways, chip shops and fast-food outlets. In the UK, they serve 800 businesses. At competitive prices, they aim to provide excellent services to their customers.  

Over the period, they have evolved from a 20,000 square foot warehouse to the latest 80,000 square foot location. They have an in-house 1,400 square foot freezer, 8 loading bays as well as a dedicated team of drivers, warehouse operators and management. To provide an exceptional service to their customers, they have a highly experienced team which is their strength.  

They make sure to deliver all the food items with utmost care while maintaining the temperature of the frozen food products. Their highly skilled workforce is there to make sure the freshness and quality of the food products.  

• Lewis food wholesaler ltd 

Their rating is 5.0 by 5.0. They are in West Bromwich and they specialize in Cakes, Biscuits, and Confectionery. They also stock on Snacks, Crisps, Groceries, and Soft Drinks. Being a food distributor in UK, they claim that they value their customers. They also offer great deals on and off. Keeping in mind the profits, they offer a range of products. 

They claim that time is precious and make sure that the delivery process is smooth, timely, and error-free.   

• MKG food products ltd 

MKG foods are known to be the multi-temperature foodservice supplier that is big enough to cope and small enough to be taken care of. They proclaim themselves to be one of the UK’s leading independent foodservice distributors.  

To understand the needs of the caterer, MKG foods have the multi-million-pound turnover.  

•  Vestey foods UK ltd 

They find pride in connecting suppliers and customers across the globe. Offering product expertise and outstanding customer service, their business is 100% family owned and is currently operated in 70 countries.  

Specializing in the development, delivery and sourcing of a worldwide range of products Vestey foods UK is a global supply chain partner. Including Meat, Poultry, Fish and Ambient food they also offer delivery of a wide range of food products. In UK they serve various organizations predominantly. 

Conclusion  

A good food distributor makes sure that there are no hurdles in the delivery process of the food products to their customers. An intelligent food distributor is the one that takes suggestions as a positive feedback and learn to adapt according to the changing market demographics. The above mentioned are some of the food distributors that you may choose from. Make a wise decision by investing in a good food supplier for your takeaway business. Try to develop a long-term relationship by finding one good distributor as there is a cost associated to it, if you keep on changing your food suppliers continuously.  

Some foods have naturally longer shelf lives, if they are stored properly. They can even be kept for months or years. Usually due to a high oil or moisture content, the food items spoil quickly. There is only one option that is to store them dried or canned, if you want them to last for a longer period. There are a lot of foods that spoil faster than you would think.  

Storing food in a commercial kitchen helps to keep your frozen food items stored for a longer period of time while maintaining the freshness. Commercial freezers are designed to maintain a specific temperature required for your food items. They are beneficial to keep your food products safe for a longer period of time.  

There are a lot of advantages of stocking a pantry with things. One thing that should be kept in mind is to calculate their shelf life.  

To see the advantages of stocking a pantry with things that will be good to eat for long periods of time, you don’t have to be worried about the doomsday.  

In many categories, many kinds of food, including both fresh and dried produce are known for their longevity. In many refrigeration units, there is a list of food items available that needs to be stored.  

The lifespan of most food items whose shelf life is less than expected, needs to be properly stored in a temperature-controlled refrigerator. Store freezers have brought many more options with evolving technology. With the advent of technology, you can store and keep your edibles at a certain temperature for a longer period.   

High temperatures and moisture will shorten the lifespan of your food items. These food items will tend to change over time in colour, flavour, and texture. Somewhat earlier, they maybe at their peak but due to climate constraints they can change in texture.  

1. Beef  

• Shelf life: 1 to 2 years 

To last a long time as a sustenance in the world, beef is used for various parts of the world to last a long time. It’s salted, lean, and dried and can be froze for later use. To stay edible for a long time, all the qualities should be there in a beef to maximize its worth.  

2. Canned fruits and vegetables 

Shelf life: 1 to 2 years past “best by” date 

Preserving food while keeping it canned is an extremely efficient means. The contents of canned food should stay good for two years or more, if they are not subject to intense heat. Be very vigilant of dented cans or the ones with swollen tops which may indicate the presence of bacteria.  

3.  Dried pasta 

 Shelf life: 1 to 2 years that has past “best by” date. 

The pasta is indestructible which is made with just semolina flour and water. However, its richer counterparts, like fresh pasta which is usually made with eggs should be kept refrigerated.  

 4. Stock cubes 

 Shelf life: 2 years 

These useful little blocks of instant stock or soup are very vulnerable to moisture and oxygen. 24 months is the minimum time they will last, so, keep them well-sealed and dried.  

5. Bakery items 

Shelf life: 3 months 

Cold temperatures slow down the growth of bacteria without changing the physical state of the object (i.e liquid to solid or vice versa).   

It is recommended to keep the bakery items in the refrigerator to make sure they retain their texture and taste of baked goods. Most bakery items will go straight to the freezer for longer use as cold air is extremely drying.  

Similarly, pizza doughs should be kept refrigerated at a specific temperature. 

6. Chicken 

The chicken will be kept safe for an indefinite period of time, if it is frozen properly. Whole raw chicken should be kept in the freezer for up to one year, parts for 9 months, and giblets or ground chicken for 3 to 4 months.  

*Do not freeze your chicken again once it is defrosted as it may cause severe food poisoning due to the growth of bacteria.  

7. Vegetables  

Shelf Life: 8-12 months 

Up to 8-12 months, frozen vegetables can last. Depending on the best by date, the preparation method, and how they are stored their frozen life varies depending on best by date.  

*Do not continuously refreeze them and try to maintain a constant temperature to avoid any contamination.   

8. Ice cream and desserts 

Shelf Life: 2-3 months 

Before putting any desert in your refrigerator, make sure to check the temperature. The maximum temperature is 0°F (-18°C) or colder. In the case of a commercial freezer the temperature should not be above 10°F (-12°C). Ice cream will be thoroughly frozen and will feel hard to touch, if kept at a proper temperature. You may need to bring that to the attention of the store manager if the product is soft.     

Conclusion  

Within an appropriate timeframe, you must make sure that cold storage freezers can bring chilled foods to the required core temperature. That ideally is -18°C. The basic reason behind doing that is to ensure food safety and to limit any microbial growth in the food product.  

Before the expiration of their durability date, foods bearing a ‘use by’ date must be ‘frozen.’ The latest point would be midnight on the date indicated, for ‘use-by’ dates.  

To ensure appropriate storage, temperatures should be maintained. You must Verify, Validate, and Monitor throughout the period of freezing.  

For freezing, you will also need to assess the packaging for freezing and suitability of foods. In order to facilitate safe and appropriate freezing, you will need to determine whether food will need to be removed from the pallets or to other storage arrangements.

• 

Kitchen is supposedly the place where your friends and family usually gather. It is the heart of the home. While cooking dinner, it is the place where you gossip, sit, and spend most of your time. You catch-up over a cup of tea or a glass of wine while enjoying home cooked food.  Your friends and family are the ones that usually join you in the kitchen. If you have a small kitchen and you want to make maximum use of it then there are certain hacks that can allow you to maximize your space. Distributors of food and drink in UK often face this issue of small kitchen.  

Usually, this space is barely big enough to cook let alone allow people to gather. Since the 1960’s, the average size of kitchens has reduced by a third.  

To solve this issue, there are multiple hacks that you can try to make the most of your kitchen.  

Use your oven for storage. 

You can use your oven for storage purpose when it is not on. Though it is normally used for Muffin Tins, Baking Trays, Cooling Racks and so on. Before you cook your dinner, just make sure you take these out and place them on the side.  

Hang hooks where you can. 

For making the most of what would otherwise be dead space, hooks are perfect. While on the back of cupboard doors they can be used for utensils and at the end of counters for oven gloves too.  

Use magnetic boards. 

Magnetic boards can be placed in any wasted space _ in cupboards or on walls _ and can be used for all your kitchen knives and any other kitchen utensils that will stick to it that you may own.  

Grab some magazine racks. 

At the counters or to the back of cupboard doors, magazine racks can be easily hung. They are the perfect spot for your kitchen foil, cling film, tissue rolls and so on.  

Look up. 

If there is a lot of space available between the top of cupboards and the ceilings, use this to store all your pans and pots. You can add a shelf above the doorway and use it for the rest.  

Fold away furniture. 

Though you need it, your kitchen table takes a lot of space. So, why not go for one that folds down rather than getting rid of it. It can be pushed into the corner to give you back some floor space, so, why you are not using this.  

Have a regular clear out. 

There is no point in keeping the appliances that have never been used or you have stopped using them. It is better to dispose of that useless stuff. That way, you will be saving some space and getting yourself some extra money. If you don’t want to sell this stuff, you can keep them in the storage unit for time being and can decide later if that fits your need. You can choose a space as small as a postbox if you wish. It can help to make your kitchen look a little bit bigger by allowing the space. 

You will be surprised how quickly it can become cluttered and this will make the space feel even smaller. To keep the space organized and tidy, you should do a regular clear out.  

Change a Small Corner into a Kitchen Storage Nook. 

Organize that small corner in your kitchen which has not been used in the past. You can make use of this corner by placing your stuff that you don’t need on regular basis.  

Open Shelving Kitchen. 

De-clutter your kitchen by getting open shelves made, in there. This can save you a lot of space and can organize your belongings at the same time.   

Conclusion  

These are some of the hacks that can save you a lot of space in your kitchen. Try inculcating these in your small kitchen and make the most out of it.  

However, you can even place your unnecessary stuff in the storage units. In this way, you can keep your stuff with you forever or for short term. That again depends on the time frame as for how long you want to keep them in the storage unit. 

Leave the pans and pots to pile up on the counters and the space will just disappear underneath it. So, it is advisable to clean-up whenever you have time. Try practicing these hacks to make sure your small kitchen has a lot of space available.  

Even as a food distributor, you can make use of the storage units by putting your inventory in there.