A shared family ethos and a flexible approach to logistics are laying the foundations for a growing partnership between premium food manufacturer Gazebo Fine Foods and temperature-controlled storage and distribution specialist JS Davidson.
Having begun working together around a year ago, the relationship has already expanded beyond storage. It now includes value-added services such as container unloading, tempering, sleeving and date coding, with further opportunities now being explored as Gazebo continues to grow.
Established in 1987, Gazebo Fine Foods is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of handcrafted frozen and chilled ethnic snacks and ready meals. Employing more than 160 people, the business manufactures products in the UK while also working with carefully selected production partners in India and China. This is to meet growing demand ensuring all products are manufactured to Gazebo’s stringent requirements.
As those international supply chains have expanded, so too has the need for a temperature-controlled solutions partner.
Gazebo initially approached JS Davidson following a recommendation from industry contacts. They quickly found a business whose culture closely reflected its own.
Tanoj Shah of Gazebo Fine Foods said, “We are both family businesses. That was important to us from the outset. We operate with a small, proactive team and needed a logistics partner that would be flexible, responsive and easy to work with.
“As our imports have increased, having access to container unloading, storage and value-added services such as tempering and date coding has become increasingly important. JS Davidson has given us that flexibility while providing a service that’s both reliable and approachable.”
Outsourcing creates additional capacity
Before appointing JS Davidson, Gazebo managed these operations from its own Wembley facility. Outsourcing selected elements of the operation has enabled the company to increase capacity while maintaining the agility needed to respond to changing customer requirements.
The partnership is continuing to evolve, with Gazebo now exploring opportunities to extend the range of services provided. It now includes additional sleeving, date coding and repacking activities across a wider range of products.
Tanoj Shah added, “One of the biggest strengths of JS Davidson is that nothing ever seems too much trouble. John and his team are always approachable and if an issue arises, it is dealt with quickly. That gives us confidence as we continue to grow.”
Value added services support expansion
For JS Davidson, the partnership reflects its ability to provide a complete outsourced service for food manufacturers. They combine temperature-controlled storage with a wide range of value-added services including container devanning, tempering, repacking, sleeving, date coding, labelling and product rework.
John Davidson, Managing Director of JS Davidson, said, “Many food manufacturers are looking for more than somewhere to store products. They need a logistics partner that can adapt as their business evolves and provide the additional services that keep products moving efficiently through the supply chain.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Gazebo Fine Foods as the business grows. Like us, it’s a family-run company that values long-term relationships, flexibility and good customer service. Those shared values have helped create a partnership that continues to develop, and we look forward to supporting the business for many years to come.”
