S&NPE launches food website for lessees

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises (S&NPE) is launching a food website for its 2000-plus tenants and lessees.

The site, www.snpefood.co.uk, gives lncludes a range of content designed to support lessees' food trade, from information on the latest food and hygiene legislation to downloadable menus and a gross profit calculator to help maintain margins.

It also acts as a link with a range of suppliers with whom S&NPE has negotiated discounts.

Products including frozen and fresh food, coffee, seafish, laundry items, menu binders to chalkboards, kitchen equipment, cookbooks and uniforms can be sourced.

For pubs with limited cooking facilities, complete back bar solutions allow them to offer Chicago Town pizzas, Herta hot dogs and Jumbucks pies.

Ben Bartlett, S&NPE food development manager and a former Publican​ HQ Food Champion, has been developing and piloting the site for several months. He said: "The food website provides lessees with the type of support they have told us would make a difference to them.

"Up to date legal and training information, promotions and marketing materials as well as information on the latest food trends and menus are all available to them at the touch of a button."

A range of menu templates allows pubs to insert their own dishes and pub details, with menus professionally printed and delivered within 72 hours.

Bartlett continues: "Feedback from our initial trials has been extremely positive with the menu printing proving the most popular area of the site."

One lessee who is using the site is Phil Breed of the Abbey Inn, Kinloss. He said: "When it comes to menus, there are lots of suggestions for different courses, things that I wouldn't have thought of, but think my own customers will enjoy.

The wording is already in marketing speak so it saves time thinking of dish descriptions. You can even get a food hygiene certificate on line. Staff used to have to travel 15 miles whereas now they only need spend half an hour on the computer."