Thomas Ridley of Rougham scoops City Pub Group deal

Rougham-based Thomas Ridley expressed delight after winning a “significant” new contract to supply 37 City Pub Group establishments.

The highly successful Suffolk food business was snapped up in January this year by multi-billion pound food service group Bidcorp of South Africa for an undisclosed sum.

The Suffolk company’s 280-strong workforce – headed up by Justin Godfrey who is managing director and descendant of the company’s founder – remained, along with the company name.

Under the deal, the company continues to operate as a standalone autonomous business – keeping its name, brand, people, and culture.

City Pub Group owns a wide range of pubs, restaurants and hotels across East Anglia, London, southern England and into Wales.  

They include Aragon House in London, The Old Bicycle Club in Cambridge, The Georgian Townhouse in Norwich and Damson and Wilde in Bury St Edmunds.

The deal means that Thomas Ridley will be supplying hospitality customers across a much broader geographical area.

To service the contract it has added 57 new lines as it supports ongoing menu development for the group.

The foodservice supplier – which has more than 50 multi-temperature vehicles in its fleet – described it as “an exciting and well-matched new partnership” for the business.

Thomas Ridley’s group account controller Natalie Edwards said: “City Pub Group have a fantastic range of well-known sites, so we’re really excited to be working with them.

“The size and geographical spread of this contract shows that we’re geared up to accommodate this type of customer and feel that our reputation for providing a high level of service and great products pairs really well with City Pub Group’s reputation for creating great spaces and fantastic food and drink experiences.

“It’s great to be extending our delivery area further West and we all look forward to working closely with the City Pub teams as their trusted supplier.”

City Pub Group group executive chef Vincent Glouton said: “Thomas Ridley have really impressed us and we feel that our deliveries are in good hands.

“We needed Thomas Ridley to add quite a few new nominated lines for us across frozen, chilled and ambient and they’ve turned everything around really quickly and efficiently, which is great.”

City Pub Group owns 43 high-end pubs, restaurants and hotels across the southern half of England and Wales. 

Thomas Ridley supplies more than 2,000 customers across education, healthcare and hospitality and is now part of the Caterfood Group which is owned by Bidcorp.

Its main depot is based in Bury St Edmunds and has a satellite depot in Kent for deliveries across London and the southeast.