Retail: Food Hall Seeks Suppliers

The place, formerly known as ORO The Marketplace, is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. The idea is to create a high end food destination combining retail space and a restaurant, with a clear emphasis on provenance and sustainability.

Buyers, Barny Butterfield and Sarita McKinlay, are seeking fresh, ambient and chilled items for all departments in the food hall and the catering side of the business, including locally produced meat, poultry and game, dairy, fresh produce, baked goods, condiments, preserves, wine, real ales and soft drinks.

Mr Butterfield says, “I will be responsible for liaising with the Oak’s farmers, producers and growers and helping them to promote their products in store. I’m looking for suppliers who can demonstrate what is unique and special about what they offer, particularly those who practice traditional husbandry to create natural, great tasting foods that are kind on the environment and wildlife.

“We are very much looking to form long term relationships with our suppliers, so that the whole team can gain a better understanding of what we sell in store and in the restaurant and, in turn, create a more fulfilling shopping experience for our discerning customers,” he adds.

Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) will be organising one to one appointments between the buyers and potential suppliers on 4th July at the Henley Hotel in Henley-in-Arden. Alix Hay, of HEFF, who will plan the Meet the Buyer day for the Oak, says, “This is a very exciting project and one that holds great potential for producers to supply not only an upmarket food hall, but also a busy gastropub kitchen.”

To register you interest contact the HEFF office on 01746 785 185, or email office@heff.co.uk.