The Caterer Supplier Spotlight series, which gives a snapshot of key hospitality suppliers, this month speaks to Nicholas Bamber, European marketing director at Foster and Gamko.

Foster, a back-to-back winner of Refrigerator Brand of the Year at The Caterer’s Supplier Awards, has worked with chefs, restaurateurs and foodservice partners since 1968.

Nick, who’s been with the business for 21 years, talks about how its team works to be the most valuable long-term refrigeration partner for operators.

 Describe your product portfolio in five words

Reliable, efficient, innovative, sustainable, flexible.

 What types of hospitality operator are your products aimed at?

We work with all kinds of hospitality businesses, from independent restaurants, pubs and bars to contract caterers and larger multi-site operators that are household names. Whether they’re after one fridge or refrigeration solutions for a whole kitchen, we have a wide range of products to suit the size of the space they’re working with.

What challenges do your products help hospitality operators to meet?

Hospitality businesses are dealing with rising energy costs, rising margins and pressure to work more sustainably. Our products help by keeping running costs down, protecting ingredients and reducing the disruption that can come when refrigeration fails.

How do your products provide value for money?

We look beyond the price of the fridge itself and consider what it will cost to run over its lifetime. Our focus on reliability and durability means operators can spend less on running and maintaining their equipment, while getting something built to last.

How do your products assist operators with sustainability efforts?

We design our products to use less energy and help operators reduce food waste, but we also look at how our fridges are made, from the energy and the materials we use to the waste created during manufacturing. Our work is aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), so operators can feel confident that sustainability is being considered throughout the life of the product, from the factory floor to the kitchen, and beyond as they work towards their own sustainability and net-zero goals.

 What are your top three brand values?

Reliability, innovation and customer commitment. Operators know that they can rely not only on our products, but on Foster as their long-term refrigeration partner, as we continue to innovate and find better ways to meet their changing operational, financial and environmental needs.

 What trends are you noticing in your product sector?

Energy efficiency and sustainability remain major priorities as operators look to reduce both their running costs and environmental impact. At the same time, commercial kitchens are becoming smaller as businesses seek to maximise revenue-generating front of house space. This is increasing demand for compact, flexible and multifunctional equipment. Our FlexDrawer range reflects this shift, with drawers that switch between refrigerator and freezer temperatures and a heavy-duty worktop that can accommodate compatible cooking equipment, giving operators more flexibility and helping them make better use of limited space.

What hints can you give as to any new product introductions?

We’ve got something really exciting we’re about to launch to the market within the next few weeks, so keep an eye on the Foster channels for that announcement!

 How do you ensure your customer service quality?

For us, good customer service doesn’t stop when the fridge is delivered. Our teams and authorised dealers are there to support operators throughout the customer journey, from choosing the right equipment and getting it up and running to dealing with any issues that come up along the way as part of our responsive after-sales assistance. We’re proud that our commitment to this level of support has been recognised through customer and partner voted-for awards, including The Caterer’s Refrigeration Brand of the Year.

 What are your brand’s unique selling points?

We combine specialist refrigeration expertise with practical support that helps operators when they need it most. We understand how disruptive and costly refrigeration failure can be, which is why our free SOS next-day delivery service gives customers quick access to a selection of our most popular products when they need it most.

We also offer 0% interest-free credit and flexible leasing options, helping operators to invest in high-quality, energy-efficient refrigeration while spreading the cost to suit hospitality cash flow. Combined with our broad product portfolio, manufacturing expertise and long-term customer support, we’re a refrigeration partner operators can rely on.