West Suffolk-based catering supplies business Thomas Ridley Foodservice has celebrated its centenary as a limited company by unveiling its latest investment.

East Anglian Daily Times: The event celebrating the centenary of Thomas Ridley Foodservice as a limited company. Picture: Steve BradshawThe event celebrating the centenary of Thomas Ridley Foodservice as a limited company. Picture: Steve Bradshaw (Image: Archant)

The company also marked the occasion with an event for staff and partners at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, during which awards were presented to a dozen members of its team.

A new 25,000 sq ft freezer facility at the company’s base on the Rougham Industrial Estate, representing an investment of £3.6, is now full operational and has increased its frozen sales volume by more than 50%.

And the firm aims to ensure that it continues to offer industry-leading standards of service through the use of voice picking and multi-order picking on to electronic trucks.

“From humble beginnings Thomas Ridley has grown to become one of the UK’s leading independent delivered wholesalers, with an outstanding reputation for delivering quality products, value, convenience and exceptional customer service, whilst retaining the personal touch,” said a company spokesman.

East Anglian Daily Times: The event celebrating the centenary of Thomas Ridley Foodservice as a limited company. Picture: Steve BradshawThe event celebrating the centenary of Thomas Ridley Foodservice as a limited company. Picture: Steve Bradshaw (Image: Archant)

“With the flexibility of being a family owned business, Thomas Ridley can adapt to market changes and lead the way in working with customers and suppliers to ensure mutually beneficial relationships.”

The company traces its origins back to 1808 when Thomas Ridley, a Fenland farmer, bought a grocery shop in Bury St Edmunds.

The shop eventually closed during the 1990s, with the company today focused on the food service sector, stocking more than 10,000 product lines including ambient, chilled, fine foods, frozen food as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, butchery, janitorial and catering sundries.

Among the awards presented at the celebration event were: Sales Person of 2017, Paul Le Grice; Sales Order Processor of 2017, Greg Humphreys; Sales Director Recognition Award, Vicky Hislop; Ambient/Chilled Assembler of 2017, Ovidijus Tinteris, Frozen Assembler of 2017, Renatas Rutkauskas; Fork Lift Truck Operator of 2017, Ionut Vorniceanu; Driver of the Year,Andy Bull; and Runner-up Driver of the Year, Wayne Jacka.

In addition, Outstanding Contribution awards were made to Rebecca Pike, Richard Flack, Malcolm Farrow and Tony Collins.