A Catering Equipment Distributors Association (CEDA) survey has revealed that almost 60% of its members reported a summer quarter that was better than the same period in 2013.
When asking specifically on how summer sales performed without the addition of ‘windfall' business from the impact of Universal Free School Meals for primary schools in England, the survey showed that business has improved.
Also, almost 72% reported that the quarter to the end of October returned better sales than the previous quarter to July showing a significant upturn in business for the majority of companies.
The return to strong business performance by many CEDA members is positive as director general Adam Mason notes: "It is great to see so many of our members reporting positive results. The coming year will undoubtedly provide many challenges in maintaining this positive growth and CEDA will be launching a number of initiatives designed to increase sales opportunities and increase margins for our member companies to support them going forward."
Recently, CEDA has also been approached to replace the TAB Centre’s failing catering oven, which helps feed homeless people and give cookery lessons to young people from the local community.