Marriott brings a wealth of experience to the procurement firm having worked in hospitality for many years with businesses such as Mitchells & Butler, All Bar One before founding Darwin & Wallace which was sold to Portobello Pub Company last year.
Darwin & Wallace was founded by Mel Marriott in 2012, backed by leading private equity firm Imbiba and approximately 200 smaller individual shareholders via the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme.
She previously told The Morning Advertiser in an interview about the companies sustainability credentials.
Operator experience
Prestige Purchasing CEO Shaun Allen said: “I have known Mel for a number of years and feel very fortunate and excited that she has joined our team. Mel’s experience as an operator along with her deep knowledge of our sector will not only help us drive our commercial strategy forward but her vast experience as a leader will bring huge value to our board, our business and to our customers.”
Mel Marriott said: “I am delighted to be joining Shaun and the team at Prestige Purchasing as commercial director having been a long-term user of, and passionate advocate for the exemplary procurement services they provide. Their depth of knowledge is unparalleled, and they deliver exceptional results for many truly great operators with integrity.
Cost pressures
She added: “Sadly, the ongoing cost pressures that our sector continues to face means the maximisation of supply chain utility and efficiency is a commercial imperative and thankfully one where, with the assistance of a specialist, significant reward can be delivered to the bottom line”.
Meanwhile, the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Index warned that firms need to adapt their purchasing strategies after the resurgence of inflationary pressures within the UK’s foodservice sector.
The index showed a food inflation rise of 2% impacted by global and domestic factors.
