New website to recommend food suppliers

The new website’s co-founder David Dorricott said it filled an information gap in the market. “There’s nothing like i-chef.biz available for people working in our industry,” ​he said.

“What we are creating is an essential resource that saves time and money, but most importantly provides an all-encompassing platform of information that his trusted.”​

Whether searching for the freshest fish, interesting ingredients, cuts of meat and exotic fruit or recommendation from industry peers, the website aims to provide a ‘little black book’ of key industry suppliers.

‘Supplier members’​

Dorricott told FoodManufacture.co.uk the website could benefit food and drink manufacturers in several ways. “For example, we will receive direct feedback from the users of i-Chef about the supplier members.​

“Each of them will be individually, as well collectively, dependent on the category that they fit in. This will provide information, not only about what currently exists, pertaining to ingredients, products, quality and consistency, but we will also receive information indicative of trends and requirements which will extend into manufacturing processes.” ​

This information will enable i-Chef to “act as a conduit to the food manufacturers” ​wishing to seek information or advice from us in respect of our members or community’s wishes.

Source suppliers nationwide​

After registering with the site, users will be able to access to the i-Chef Network to source suppliers nationwide. Users will be able to search not only by category, product, and name but also by hygiene or eco policy and awards and accreditations before contacting them at the click of a mouse.

Products are also identified by country of origin for most suppliers. The founders plan to incorporate a filter, allowing users to prioritise British produce.

“Not only do we have a community of top suppliers who will have i-Chef user members to benefit their own individual businesses, but they will also have the potential to educate and inform our members,”​ said Dorricott.

Membership of the site is free for the first six months, after which there is a monthly fee or annual subscription.

Co-founder of the site is former Savoy head chef Anton Edelmann.

More information about the website is available here​.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, FoodManufacture.co.uk’s publisher, William Reed Business Media, launched a new website called FeedNavigator.com​ to supply independent news, views and analysis about the global livestock feed inudstry.