sales/marketing & brokerage
Father John Kerr and son Michael, who head The JFK Partnership, one of Scotland’s leading food brokerages.
National and Scottish brands The JFK Partnership has responsibility for a strong portfolio of national brands, which are complemented by leading Scottish labels. The company has the sole Scottish brokerage for Compton’s Gravy Salt and the Symington’s range, including Campbell’s, Crosse & Blackwell, Aunt Bessie’s, Ragu and Chicken Tonight. It is also handling the newly launched Elgorriaga biscuit selection, a favourite with holidaymakers in Spain.
‘In the current recession, with food price inflation and margins ever tightening, the fixed cost sales option is a medal winner’ Michael and John Kerr, JFK Partnership For three leading Scottish producers, The JFK Partnership has wider responsibility: Hamlyn’s of Scotland Scottish Porridge Oats and Oatmeal; Nisha Enterprises’ Golden Cross snacks, and Nisha’s nuts and confectionery; and the Scotts Foodservice range of jams and marmalades. Buchanans in Northern Ireland, which produces cereals, pulses and dried fruit, completes the client partnerships. Nisha Enterprises’ acquisition of the Millar brand earlier this year saw the building of a new sweets factory in Livingston.
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• Cash & Carry Management • September 2012
This led to the iconic Millar Pan Drops, Mint Imperials and other favourite varieties being launched to what JFK describes as ‘a keenly awaiting market’. Director Michael Kerr, son of founder John, who set up the business 25 years ago, says: “The welcome reappearance of Millar’s sweets has enjoyed the marketing equivalent of a hero’s welcome.” Michael believes that there is no word which better describes the role of the broker in today’s grocery trade than “partnership” and he and his father have taken this as their slogan, operating as an integrated part of each client’s sales team. John believes that the company’s ‘all sectors of Scotland’ coverage of grocery, foodservice, confectionery and specialist retail enables it to develop its clients’ brands to their full potential in a marketplace in which every supplier is finding it increasingly difficult to deliver regular sales coverage at a viable percentage cost of sales. The father and son team told Cash & Carry Management: “In the current recession, with food price inflation and margins ever tightening, the fixed cost sales option is a medal winner.”
For further information: DCS Europe (01789) 208000 The JFK Partnership (01343) 541496 Robinson Young (01284) 766261 SHS Sales & Marketing (01452) 378500 The Whole Sale Company (01296) 711011
www.cashandcarrymanagement.co.uk