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Warnings over weather and war on increasing food costs


Upheaval in the supply chain caused by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the impact of storms and freezing weather in the UK, threaten to reverse the bene- fits of the falling inflation rate, hospitality buying specialist Lynx Purchasing has warned. The firm’s managing director


Rachel Dobson cautioned: “The easing of inflationary pressures on the hospitality sector is very welcome. The price increases of the past two years are now bed- ded in, and operators can start to plan their menus for spring and summer accordingly. “However, the supply chain


is still very sensitive to shocks. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine is still having a significant impact on cooking oil and grain prices, while disruption to shipping through the Suez Canal is affect- ing the cost of a wide range of commodities. Suppliers of


Movers


&Shakers


Hollywood actor and producer Cate Blanchett has joined saké brand Toku Saké as


creative director. Blanchett will oversee creative strategy and direction, including new product development and innovation. Toku Saké co-founders Anthony Newman and Peter Hudson said: “Cate’s critically acclaimed background as an artist and producer, along with her passion for Japanese culture, will open new doors for our brand.”


The sub-zero temperatures may affect stocks for months, says Lynx


bulkier items, such as catering equipment, are already advising customers to factor in delays. “Blockades and protests by European farmers also have the potential to affect supplies into the UK, and even closer to home. The first few weeks of 2024 saw a series of storms hit the UK, as well as sub-zero temperatures.


Farmers and growers are still assessing the resulting damage to crops, which may not be fully apparent for several months.” The warning comes as Lynx Purchasing publishes the spring


2024 edition of its regular Market Forecast, looking at a range of food and drink supplier pricing in the run-up to spring.


Gosnells gains B Corp certification


Honey-based drinks pro- ducer Gosnells has received B Corp approval, having met the scheme’s rigorous social and environmental standards. The London-headquartered


meadery examined every stage of its production, distribution and operation to gain the certification, learning more about its utility and resource usage along the way. Gosnells founder and manag-


ing director Tom Gosnell said: “We want to give real meaning to that over-used and under-quali- fied word ‘sustainability’. Chris Turner, executive direc-


tor of BCorp verifier B Lab UK, analysed the drinks’ firm’s efforts. He said: “Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really helps spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.” Gosnells uses honey to pro-


duce its sparkling nectars, which enables it to avoid fungicides,


www.thecaterer.com Gosnells’ use of honey means it doesn’t need to use fungicides


pesticides and herbicides and the higher-emission synthetic nitro- gen needed to increase volumes. The beverage is served on draught in venues across Lon- don, including Laine pubs such as Watsons General Telegraph


and the Four Thieves, draft house venues like the Duke of Hammer- smith and Seething Lane Tap, in independents like the Gladstone Arms in Borough, as well as its own bar in Bermondsey, which opened in 2022.


Workforce management specialist Bizimply has appointed Alex Dyer to the newly created role


of UK managing director as the company sets its targets for 2024. Dyer will lead a Bizimply UK sales, customer success and marketing team. He has a 17-year record in hospitality.


Steve Wooldridge has joined brand fulfilment logistics and event support


specialist e2b in the newly- created role of partnerships director. e2b is a company within catering, hospitality and brand experience business Global Infusion Group. Woolridge brings 30 years of experience to the role.


Foodservice data consultancy TWC Group has recruited two customer support executives after


the firm’s customer base doubled in a year. The additions are Kelly Pye, client services manager, and Olly Brown, client services executive. Tanya Pepin, managing director of TWC Group, said: “These appointments will ensure we can continue to provide the highest level of customer service.”


8 March 2024 | The Caterer | 37


I WEI HUANG/SHUTTERSTOCK


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