19 Years of Supporting Local Suppliers
Why relationships still matter in Foodservice….
As we celebrate 19 years of United Fresh this month, we thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at where it all began…
Back in 2007, United Fresh was little more than an idea, a handful of trusted suppliers and a belief that there was a better way to connect local businesses with national foodservice opportunities.
Looking back through the archives, we recently revisited an article published by The Caterer shortly after our launch, documenting one of our earliest milestones & first opportunities!
Nearly two decades later, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a business in its infancy and a reminder of how far we’ve come.
Our WHY:
United Fresh was founded with a simple belief: local suppliers deserve a seat at the table.
At a time when national contracts were increasingly being awarded to large operators, many independent suppliers found themselves overlooked despite offering exceptional products, service and expertise. We believed customers shouldn’t have to choose between national coverage and local quality.
The consortium model was created to bring together trusted regional suppliers, allowing them to compete collectively while maintaining the personal service, accountability and community values that make local businesses special.
That belief still drives us today.
People want to work with people. Relationships matter. Local businesses care deeply about their customers because they are part of the communities they serve. That’s as true now as it was in 2007.
Our Growth:
What started with just five independent fresh produce suppliers has grown considerably over the last 19 years.
As our customers’ needs have evolved, so too has our offering. From our roots in fresh produce, we’ve expanded our supplier network and expertise to provide a broader range of foodservice solutions while remaining true to the principles that shaped the business from day one.
Today, United Fresh is a team of 20 people working with 76 supply partners across fresh produce, seafood, butchery and dairy. Our network now supports 7,288 customer sites across the UK and Europe, with growing partnerships throughout countries including the Netherlands and Hungary… and this is just the beginning!
We’ve always believed that growth is about more than numbers. It’s about building lasting relationships, creating opportunities for suppliers and delivering value for customers.
Perhaps that’s why the relationships that helped build United Fresh are still with us today. We continue to work with two of our original supply partners and proudly supply our very first customer.
For us, that’s one of the strongest measures of success!
Our Secret to Success:
One of the things we’re most proud of is that many of our supply partners remain deeply connected to the communities they serve.
Some of these businesses have been supplying their local areas for generations, with stories and histories that stretch back multiple generations.
Many of our partners continue to work closely with local farms and growers, sourcing produce from within their regions wherever possible and maintaining the relationships that have been built over decades.
It’s a reminder that behind every delivery is a network of family businesses, growers, producers and suppliers who genuinely care about the quality of what they do.
While the foodservice industry has changed dramatically over the years, that connection to local communities remains one of the greatest strengths of our network.
Our Evolution:
While our values remain unchanged, the industry around us continues to evolve.
Over the years, we’ve continued to invest in quality, transparency and sustainability, achieving BRC Agents & Brokers AA certification, EcoVadis Silver Award, SEDEX Certified and more.
More recently, we launched Footprints, our industry-leading sustainability initiative designed to help customers better understand the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions. By providing carbon footprint data directly through our reporting, we’re helping foodservice businesses take practical steps towards their own emission reduction goals.
As we look ahead to our twentieth year, we’re excited about the opportunities still to come and remain committed to helping our customers and suppliers navigate the changing demands of the foodservice industry.
Our Family:
To our customers, supply partners, growers, producers and team members… thank you.
For 19 years, your trust, support and partnership have helped shape United Fresh into the business it is today.
From one person and five suppliers in 2007 to a national network across the UK and Europe, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.
19 years on, we’re still driven by the same belief that started it all: when local businesses succeed, everyone benefits.
Thank you for being part of the journey so far. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.
Don’t stop there!
Read some of our other articles here:
What is El Niño?
El Niño has been declared for 2026, but what does that mean for food production, food prices and UK foodservice supply chains? We explore the risks, realities and likely impacts.
19 years of United Fresh
Celebrating 19 years of United Fresh, from championing local suppliers to building a trusted foodservice network across the UK and Europe.
July Market Report 2026
Our July market report covering current foodservice supply chain issues, seasonality, and predictions.
