Blakemore Wholesale Distribution has announced it will supply 220 Royal Voluntary Service hospital sites across the UK, after agreeing a five-year contract. 

The partnership, which commenced on April 1, will see Blakemore distribute a range of grocery, impulse, chilled and frozen food and drink products to Royal Voluntary Service sites and help to develop their customer proposition. 

Raj Krishan, Blakemore Wholesale Distribution sales director, said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract to supply Royal Voluntary Service. Blakemore Wholesale Distribution has created a bespoke, flexible service plan utilising the full Blakemore network and its expertise to deliver a comprehensive range and support package that also delivers great value, we believe that Royal Voluntary Service is a great fit for our company values.” 

Royal Voluntary Service is a volunteer charity that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Great Britain. It is also the biggest hospital retailer in England, Scotland and Wales, managing over 440 hospital shops, cafés and trolley services. 

The charity has taken an early lead on the NHS workforce health agenda by implementing Healthy Choices, an ambitious programme to transform its entire UK retail estate to provide fairly-priced healthy food, drink and shopping choices. 

Blakemore already services national contracts for a number of accounts such as BP, Roadchef, Wickes, Primark and Halfords. The business currently services 3,000 delivery points across the UK, covering multiples, independents, forecourts, vending operators, other wholesalers, educational establishments, and leisure and hospitality sites.