Family-run 2U Food enjoying sweet taste of success
A family-run catering company is planning expansion of its mobile food truck operation into Greater Manchester after investing over £250,000 on increasing its fleet of food trucks and larger premises.
2U Food, based in Rainford near St Helens, is upping the number of trucks it uses to service business parks and industrial estates across Merseyside, including the Wirral, Cheshire and West Lancashire.
The company run by managing director Paul Foster alongside his director son Dan, has also bought a 5,000sq ft warehouse next to its head office, but is now looking for new site in Greater Manchester – the city region with highest concentration of industrial estates in the North West.
Typically, the firm will secure permission from companies and site managers to visit them during the day where staff would otherwise find it difficult to buy food at mealtimes.
Sales and Marketing manager James Massey said 2U Food is successful because the trucks turn up consistently at the agreed time every day.
“People like a service they can rely on,” he said. It’s all about customer service and to aid this we’re currently developing an app which tells people how far away we are from our destination.”
The Food Trucks require serious investment and each one is fully equipped to ensuring a broad range of food and snacks are available.
2U Food is also planning on launching a new concept – outside of London – after winning a contract to run canteens which use self-service checkout technology.
It also provides a variety of vending services for many multi-national companies.
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for 2U Food.
The company launched just before the financial crisis of 2008. Paul said: “There was a time when we were in the wrong location and business wasn’t developing. It was a bad time for everyone.”
“It was then that he got to know a local businessman called David Edwards.
“David helped to fund our premises for me with a lot of trust and very little security,” continued Paul. “He gave me a helping hand at the right time. He was and is an inspiring man. He gave us the inspiration to move it all forward.
“Since we moved to Rainford over four years ago and with the support of St Helens Chamber and St Helens Council in terms of grant support and guidance, we’ve never looked back.
“We’re now looking for another depot in Manchester, but our HQ will always be here.”
