With innovation and sustainability at its core, Birchall Foodservice has found its recipe for success
Fifth-generation family business and food wholesaler, Birchall Foodservice (Birchall) offers a one-stop shop of food items, catering equipment, and cleaning products to caterers in the hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors. With its reliable fleet, a team of dedicated professionals, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s no surprise that business is booming for Birchall.
The story of Birchall began in 1905 with George Chichester Birchall’s horse and cart deliveries of cream, eggs, butter, and yeast across Burnley, Lancashire. GC Birchall Ltd officially emerged in 1939 as the world braced for the Second World War. The business has evolved significantly, having grown from a shop to a commercial mill in the 1930s, to Network 65 Business Park in 2002, and then onto Burnley Bridge Business Park in 2015, which remains the company’s head office. Birchall has remained true to its roots in the town of Burnley and is proud of its working-class, Lancashire heritage.
Food Chain hears from Directors Rob Chesworth and Gill Smith about Birchall’s latest developments. “Our product range covers fresh butchery and produce, grocery, chilled products, frozen food, alcohol, cleaning products, disposables, and catering equipment,” they begin. “We understand that no two kitchens are the same, so our mission is to meet the varied needs of every kitchen environment, from bustling school cafeterias and residential care homes to modern restaurants and busy play centers, ensuring dietary preferences and culinary demands are consistently met.
“We also understand the demands of today’s foodservice industry, and our support extends beyond the plate. Alongside our product offering, we offer a suite of services including a development chef, training and trade shows in our in-house events center, Dysphagia workshops, and environmental health advice, to name just a few.”
Enhancing operations
Priding itself on reliability and efficiency, Birchall also proudly operates its own fleet. “We have a variety of MAN vehicles designed to meet a range of transportation needs,” Gill states. “We operate four 44-ton articulated tractor units within our trunking operations to satellite sites each night, which are used to pull three double-decker trailers and one single-deck trailer.
“We also have 22 refrigerated trucks, each with an 18-ton capacity, along with five more refrigerated trucks at 12 tons, all designed to transport perishable goods in optimal condition,” she adds. “For smaller deliveries and those with restricted access, our fleet also includes nine refrigerated vans, each with a 3.5-ton capacity, to ensure we can efficiently handle deliveries of all sizes.”
Since we last spoke with Birchall in 2023, the company has made significant strides in the area of technology. “With technology constantly changing, we’ve made the operational decision to introduce an IT Director,” they reveal. “This role not only ensures we have the necessary direction for future growth, but also challenges us to get the maximum value from our resources. Cyber security is currently a high priority for us too. Having recently completed cyber security awareness seminars across the organization, we are now rolling out KnowB4 Training campaigns for improved IT knowledge and security.”
Delivering a better tomorrow
Birchall is also focusing on ESG, as Gill explains: “We are committed to a brighter future for our employees, customers, suppliers, community, and our planet. As a fifth-generation family business, we have long been guided by the ethics of honesty, fairness, and doing the right thing, and we feel that it’s our duty to deliver profit for the business while looking after people, places, and the planet.
“Our ‘Delivering a Better Tomorrow’ initiative covers all aspects of our corporate social responsibility, including reducing our carbon emissions, giving back to the community, and making sure our employees are happy and healthy at work. In terms of environmental sustainability, we’ve reduced our carbon emissions by an impressive 46 percent between 2019 and 2022 throughout initiatives like the installation of 388 solar panels on our roof and the introduction of electric vehicles in our fleet. We further reduced our emissions by 16 percent between 2022 and 2023, which has been verified by our specialist environmental partner, Climate Partner.
“We also support the wider community through several initiatives like being the headline sponsors of Lowerhouse Cricket Club for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons, as well as the main kit sponsor for Rossendale United Under 15s. We also support junior rock climber, Finlay Baldwin, who is aiming to compete in the BMC Youth Climbing Series.
“Lancashire Mind is our chosen charity partner for 2024 and 2025, and together we are working to raise vital funds to support people throughout Lancashire. To provide mental health support for our employees, we enable access to a fully qualified counsellor who regularly visits our site to offer counselling.”
Increasing market share
Turning to the future, it’s clear that Rob and Gill have ambitious goals for the business. “We’ll continue to invest in further technology automations, particularly in our warehouse operations,” they share. “Implementing advanced systems to streamline inventory management, order processing and logistics will enhance our efficiency and improve overall customer satisfaction. Our goal is to create a more agile, scalable business that remains competitive in an evolving marketplace.
“We’re aiming for significant growth in both sales and net profit over the next five years, driven by a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions,” the pair conclude. “By expanding our customer base and exploring new markets, we hope to strengthen our position in the industry. At the same time, we are actively looking for opportunities to acquire complementary businesses that can enhance our service offerings and increase our market share.”