Stable supply chain is key for operators and dealers, says tableware specialist
How do you get round the massive supply chain and global logistics problems facing the hospitality industry? Utopia, the UK’s largest supplier of tableware for the HoReCa sector, has created an answer: find alternative sources that are closer to home, so controlling the logistics is easier and shipping is faster.
“With tableware and glassware, stability of supply is crucial,” says Josh Rammell, marketing manager at Utopia. “The last thing operators want when they invest in a new collection is to find out they can’t get replacements, or that the design they’ve set their sights on isn’t available. Hence our move to source more products from closer to the UK, where we can have more control over the supply chain.”
Utopia prides itself on being able to quickly respond to customer orders. The company’s 168,000 square foot warehouse at Langham Park, Chesterfield, can hold in excess of 30,000 pallets. Opened in 2019, it’s designed to offer the best possible customer support in terms of speed, accuracy and handling of orders.
To ensure continuity of supply, Utopia has now set up additional agreements with leading tableware, glassware and barware designers and manufacturers in countries including Turkey, Poland and Portugal, and is also sourcing more products from the UK.
Utopia will continue to offer products from around the world, including those sourced from countries such as China and India. “These are high quality products that deserve their place in the HoReCa market, but due to the current problems with global shipping we felt we had to offer our customers an alternative,” says Rammell.
“We are very excited to be presenting the new product lines to the UK market in 2022. They will join new collections we will be launching from our established designers – in all we’re looking to present nearly 400 new designs this year.”