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CJ Lang Foodservice: The Caterers' Friend
If some businesses are viewing this sobering economic climate as a time to scale down their operations, others are experiencing a period of encouragingly consistent growth. One foodservice supplier in particular is witnessing a marked increase in demand for its products and services, and they're capitalising on their hard-earned reputation for customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Step forward CJ Lang Foodservice, the Dundee-based supplier of food, drink, and equipment to the catering and hospitality industry…
Founded in 1919 and still owned and operated by the eponymous family, CJ Lang is perhaps best-known for its successful chain of Spar convenience stores dotted throughout the country. However, since launching the foodservice division in Aberdeen thirty years ago (and in Perth in 1980), the company has strengthened its share of the same market year on year, and is now the largest independent retailing and distribution operator in Scotland.
With clients in all sectors spanning hotels, pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, care homes, local authorities and offshore installations, CJ Lang's foodservice division offers an extensive portfolio of over 21,000 food and drink products.
Foodservice Controller, Steve Irons, has spent the last 13 years getting to know his customers' needs, and is convinced that the company's success record is down to three principal factors: value, flexibility and loyalty:
'Our clients include private businesses, schools, local authorities, care homes and even parts of the Scottish Prison Service,' he says. 'They recognise that because we are independent, we can adapt to their requirements on an individual basis. No task is too big nor order too small, and our clients like the fact they can rely on us to deliver what they need, when they need it.'
With foodservice depots and catering equipment showrooms in Perth & Aberdeen, CJ Lang is committed to supplying Scotland's catering and hospitality industry with their burgeoning range of foodservice products.
'While we're not the biggest in terms of numbers of depots, we are certainly the most flexible and willing to please,' admits Steve. Unlike some companies, we're not run by committee, which means we can react quickly to individual requests and can tailor packages to individual clients. We are constantly consulting with our clients and customers to ensure we are getting them the best deal.'
A recent call from a long-standing client in central Scotland is a case in point: 'We were contacted by Stirling Council last year,' continues Steve. We've been supplying them with products for their schools and care homes but they were looking for a more specialist product, namely fruit & veg. 'We do not normally supply this but we wanted to find a solution for them. It was a real challenge and we spent some considerable time finding an affordable source especially for the Council but we managed it for them and now we supply all their fruit and vegetables throughout the entire region. 'We go the extra mile for a loyal client, and we want caterers to know that if you deal with us you can talk to us about this kind of thing, and we will do our utmost to accommodate your requests.'
And in a further illustration of this flexibility, the company is in the process of negotiating with a major cooking-oil provider. 'In the past, clients have had to pay for used cooking oil to be retrieved for recycling into biodiesel,' says Steve. 'However, we are currently negotiating with a cooking-oil firm so that they will pay the client for the oil they pick up. We hope this will create further savings for the customer in the long-term.'
Meanwhile. CJ Lang's catering equipment division, which operates out of a large showroom in Aberdeen, supplies companies who are fitting out ships and oil rigs in the North Sea and beyond.
'We are sales agents for most major UK manufacturers and we can also source equipment from manufacturers throughout the world,' says Steve. 'Our range includes light-, medium- and heavy-duty items, as well as ovens, microwaves and many other machines for caterers to purchase off the shelf.'
So, it would appear that despite the economic downturn and associated gloom, some businesses are bucking the trend by demonstrating the value of innovative product ranges, high standards of service and customer loyalty. If these remain at the top of your business's agenda, it needn't be a time for downsizing. CJ Lang is living proof of that.
This article has been edited from its original version. For the complete feature, please see Catering in Scotland magazine February/March 2009.
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