Erudus Out and About: Winter

Visit to Pioneer Foodservice

What

A catch-up with Erudus user and one of the largest and longest established suppliers of products to the catering trade in the north of England and southern Scotland, Pioneer.

We were keen to see their recent expansion, including new office and a cold store, and talk about what they’ve been up to, as well as their Erudus experience.

Where

The Pioneer headquarters in Carlisle

When

10th December

Who

Erudus’s Kat and Beth were hosted by the Pioneer Technical Team.

St Cuthbert’s Hospice Christmas Tree Collection

What

Our first hands-on show of support for the official Erudus charity for 2026, St Cuthbert’s Hospice - as announced at the start of the year.

An annual fundraiser for St Cuthbert’s, the event sees volunteers collect used Christmas trees from around Durham and deliver them to be recycled on behalf of the charity (with those having their trees collected paying a donation). We were delighted to be among the participants, which this time saw St Cuthbert’s raise £10,998, equating to an average donation of £16.14 a tree.

Where

Houses and businesses in the DH1, DH2, DH3, DH4, DH5, DH6, DH7 postcodes

When

19th January

Who

Members of team Erudus (and our van) plus St Cuthbert’s dedicated volunteers - you can find out more about the hospice and its supporters here.

And... our next fundraising venture for St Cuthbert’s has already been announced. A team of Erudus staff led by Jon Shayler will be taking on The Big Hike Hadrian’s Wall - a gruelling walk which hits a high peak of 1,000 feet. You can find out more and support us here...

Henry Colbeck What’s Cooking Trade Show

What

A day filled with inspiration and invaluable connections, hosted by family-owned Henry Colbeck, the oldest independent Fish & Chip shop supplier to the UK Fish & Chip Industry.

An experience of everything the fish and chip and fast-food industry has to offer, attendees sampled new products, watched cutting edge equipment demonstrations, found out about the latest flavour trends (including those in chicken and street food), and experienced some expert insights into the sector - on everything from emerging innovations to profitability tips.

Where

The Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Harrogate

When

8th February

Who

Over 80 leading exhibitors, from national food brands to local producers and industry specialists, and attendees representing fish & chip shops, restaurants, takeaways, and the wider foodservice industry.

Castell Howell Trade Show

What

The annual show from Wales’s leading food Wholesaler, showcasing their commitment to supporting hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare sectors across Wales and beyond. A celebration of innovation, sustainability, and the very best in foodservice, the event boasted product launches, exclusive offers, kitchen demos, producer meet and greets and even a Welsh producers village.

This year, the occasion covered no fewer than 3 ground-breaking shows in different locations, of which Erudus attended the one in Llanelli, in the preserved county of Dyfed.

Where

The Barn, Parc y Scarlets

When

10th February

Who

The wider event brought together over 5,000 Castell Howell customers, suppliers, and partners - including leading brands, artisan producers, and representatives from the hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare sectors.

FADNE - Room With A View

What

Another memorable evening in the events series from our friends at Food And Drink North East (FADNE - who champion positive trade and promote a sustainable, circular economy in our region). In addition to the usual networking and great food, this occasion was a celebration of local college students and the challenges they face, or the success they have achieved, moving into the hospitality sector. Students from the Diploma Professional Cookery course were given a brief to create a canapé for the FADNA guests using North East ingredients and inspiration, and Susan Justice hosted the panel discussion focusing on the changes in the industry over the year and why soft skills and treating young staff like family are key to keeping the industry moving forward in this day and age.

Where

Student-led restaurant The Copper Pot in Durham, which is owned and run by New College Durham - a fresh and dynamic approach to culinary education and dining.

When

12th February

Who

In addition to Erudus’s Kat and Tim, FADNE members and friends were hosted by Food And Drink North East CEO and founder Chris Jewitt and his team, and Susan Justice - the organisation’s new Chair and Head of Business Development at Bidfood, who was also the panel speaker. Other panel speakers included North Shore Coffee’s Toby Davison, NGI’s Ian Thomas and Paul Borg of Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Scottish Wholesale Achiever Awards

What

The annual celebration of excellence in the Scottish Wholesale sector, focusing on staff, businesses, and industry innovation, with categories covering Wholesale, Retail, foodservice, licensed, technology, sustainability and marketing. Whilst always an occasion of interest and admiration for Erudus, this time was even more special because our very own Bethany was an independent judge for the Best Delivered Operation - Foodservice category, alongside representatives from Premier Foods (Fáilte Foods were the worthy winners of the award).

Where

The Corn Exchange, Edinburgh

When

19th February

Who

Scotland’s most ambitious, innovative, and resilient wholesalers – and their staff, plus judges from across the food industry, and the Scottish Wholesale Association. 500 guests were in attendance for the awards and gala dinner, hosted by sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour.

Erudus Visit to Bury Black Pudding Company

What

Another visit to a valued Erudus user - Erudus’s Steven and Isabelle headed West to give some one on one training to staff at the Bury Black Pudding Company, to help them get the most out of their Erudus subscription and in turn learn more about the business so we can make sure we’re giving them all the right support. Steven and Isabelle were also treated to a factory tour to see how this British delicacy is made.

Where

The Bury Black Pudding Company factory in Heap Bridge, Bury

When

25th February

Who

Erudus were hosted by staff at The Bury Black Pudding Company, the UK’s leading specialist black pudding brand, who have one of the longest established stalls on Bury's World Famous Market.