A FOOD wholesaler has launched a click and collect service.

Brakes, which usually supplies groceries to chefs and the food industry directly, is now running a service called Food Shop, which will allow customers to pick up groceries from its depot in Brighton.

The service offers more than 6,000 products including bread, dairy, desserts, drinks, snacks, fish and seafood, meat, poultry, frozen vegetables and ready meals.

Brakes said giving customers the chance to buy in bulk would help them reduce the number of shopping trips they have to make and minimise the risk of coming into contact with others amid the coronavirus lockdown.

It said its new service would also help to take the pressure off supermarkets.

Customers can browse the range of Brakes products online and make a note of what they want.

They can then place their order between 9am and 4pm Monday to Saturday or 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Payment is taken by card over the phone. Once the order has been placed, customers receive a unique number and can collect their food the next day, Monday to Friday, with a collection slot allocated between 9am and 3pm.

The Brakes Food Shop is in Crowhurst Road, Brighton.

To collect shopping, customers will need their unique reference number, the debit card used to place the order and their car registration number.

Pressure

There is no minimum order requirement, but each order will be limited to a maximum value of £1,000 and customers will not be able to order more than ten of any particular product to make sure everyone can get hold of what they need.

The company said it has put social distancing measures in place, in line with Government guidance.

Brakes marketing director Adam Collett said: “By introducing this service we have been able to take some of the pressure off local supermarkets .

“And, by offering consumers the option to buy bigger packs, and in bulk, reduce the number of shopping trips that they need to make, which in turn supports Government advice on minimising social contact.”

Brakes has been serving chefs across the food industry for 60 years.

The firm said it offers complete traceability on all products from supplier to plate.

The company said: “We are proud to have one of the biggest ranges of responsibly sourced products in food service.

“From Red Tractor accredited meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables to MSC certified fish and seafood, our food production standards match the toughest requirements of the food service sector and meet the highest technical and food safety standards.”

Directions and collection instructions for each site are available online at www.brake.co.uk/food-shop.

Brakes is also offering contactless deliveries for care homes.

It said its drivers are trained in social distancing and hygiene measures, and the delivery service helps to reduce exposure, save time and avoid interaction at supermarkets.

• At The Argus, we are championing the work of traders during the coronavirus pandemic as part of our #BackingSussexBusiness campaign. We are always interested to hear how the community is coming together in this crisis. If you know of a local business battling to do all it can in these tough times and/or offering support to the local community, please get in touch at laurie.churchman@theargus.co.uk and rose.lock@theargus.co.uk.