Burts Chips has terminated its supply agreement with fellow West Country business MJ Baker Foodservice after three years with neither party revealing why.
MJ Baker Foodservice MD Malcolm Baker claimed he had been left in the dark as to why Burts ended its trading agreement. The contract had generated £75,000 for the wholesaler in 2010 alone, he said, adding that its payments to the supplier had been regular.
However, he admitted, relations had deteriorated. "Our relationship has been strained for the past few months," he said.
When he had tried to arrange a meeting to discuss ordering for the coming year, Burts Chips director Nick Hurst had told him that supplying MJ Baker did not fit with Burts' current strategy, he added.
Baker accused Burts of "disadvantaging" more than 200 customers that had previously bought Burts products and wanted to support other local businesses.
The wholesaler promotes West Country products including fresh fruit juice from Frobishers in Exeter and Devondale Bakery. "We actively support local suppliers and will continue to do so," he said.
All 127 suppliers it approached to take part in its Newton Abbot trade show on 31 March had signed up except Burts, he added.
"To have all of them there, is a real coup. I just wish Burts would inform us why it is no longer prepared to supply MJ Baker so that we could do something about it."
Burts MD Melvyn Glynn refused to comment on the reasons it had cancelled the contract. However, he said: "Burts is proud of its Devonshire heritage and prides itself on its commitment to use local suppliers wherever possible.
"Despite growing to become an £8m business, the company continues to forge relationships with local businesses. We have very strong relationships with a host of local and regional distributors to ensure our chips are widely available."
MJ Baker recorded pre-tax profits of £0.9m in 2009 on turnover of £17.5m.
MJ Baker Foodservice MD Malcolm Baker claimed he had been left in the dark as to why Burts ended its trading agreement. The contract had generated £75,000 for the wholesaler in 2010 alone, he said, adding that its payments to the supplier had been regular.
However, he admitted, relations had deteriorated. "Our relationship has been strained for the past few months," he said.
When he had tried to arrange a meeting to discuss ordering for the coming year, Burts Chips director Nick Hurst had told him that supplying MJ Baker did not fit with Burts' current strategy, he added.
Baker accused Burts of "disadvantaging" more than 200 customers that had previously bought Burts products and wanted to support other local businesses.
The wholesaler promotes West Country products including fresh fruit juice from Frobishers in Exeter and Devondale Bakery. "We actively support local suppliers and will continue to do so," he said.
All 127 suppliers it approached to take part in its Newton Abbot trade show on 31 March had signed up except Burts, he added.
"To have all of them there, is a real coup. I just wish Burts would inform us why it is no longer prepared to supply MJ Baker so that we could do something about it."
Burts MD Melvyn Glynn refused to comment on the reasons it had cancelled the contract. However, he said: "Burts is proud of its Devonshire heritage and prides itself on its commitment to use local suppliers wherever possible.
"Despite growing to become an £8m business, the company continues to forge relationships with local businesses. We have very strong relationships with a host of local and regional distributors to ensure our chips are widely available."
MJ Baker recorded pre-tax profits of £0.9m in 2009 on turnover of £17.5m.
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