Innovative Solutions and Sustainability Take Centre Stage at Exclusive WSH Event in London organised by Bunzl Catering & Hospitality Division.

On 12 March 2025, leading industry stakeholders gathered at the iconic Business Design Centre (BDC) in Islington, London, to attend the WSH Innovation Day, organised by Bunzl subsidiaries; Bunzl Catering Supplies, Lockhart Catering Equipment, and Aggora.

The ground-breaking event brought together key people from all operating companies of WSH to explore innovative solutions, discuss sustainability legislation, and build meaningful connections. The event saw over 60 attendees from all WSH brands; BaxterStorey, Benugo, Holroyd Howe, Searcy’s and many others, including category experts, innovators, and sustainability advocates, all united by a shared commitment to creating a sustainable future. Through networking opportunities, attendees exchanged ideas and best practices while witnessing first-hand the latest innovations transforming the industry.

During the event, Bunzl Catering Supplies showcased their exclusive brands and services, drawing attention to the significant strides being made in rethinking packaging and sustainability. Notably, attendees were introduced to reusable packaging solutions through Bunzl’s exclusive brand Verive and Verive 360°, a pioneering service solution that helps customers use reusables in a fully circular system.

Justin Turquet, Sustainability Director at Bunzl Catering Supplies comments:

 “Verive is an example of sustainable product innovation that aligns with emerging environmental regulations, and highlights the importance of sustainable solutions for the future. This event has facilitated in-depth discussions on the latest sustainability legislation and provided attendees with critical insights on upcoming legislation changes. It has helped us better understand how we can support WSH as one of its key suppliers.”

The event was not only a platform for showcasing products but also an invaluable opportunity for building long-lasting relationships. One of the organisers of the event, Michael Wrigley, National Account Manager comments:

 “As businesses continue to face mounting pressures to innovate and integrate sustainability into their operations, this gathering of experts and forward-thinkers marked an important step in driving industry-wide change. The event provided an opportunity to build new and stronger relationships with key stakeholders within the WSH brands. Its success reaffirms the growing importance of collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges and positioning the industry for a future that balances innovation with responsibility.”

As one of the UK’s most trusted and innovative commercial catering solutions provider, Aggora was also a key exhibitor at the WSH Innovation Day.  Ross Emery, Managing Director at AGGORA says:

“This was a great example of collaboration, not just between WSH and Bunzl but also between those companies and the range of suppliers who supported us. The enthusiasm from attendees from across WSH was great to see and we had some excellent discussions about how AGGORA can deliver added value and innovation to the WSH client base.”

Additionally, the event gave Lockhart Catering Equipment suppliers with permanent showrooms at the BDC the chance to meet with senior decision makers from WSH and showcase their latest product developments directly. Matt Bradley, Senior National Account Manager at Churchill, explained the advantage of showcasing the range at the WSH Innovation Day:

“The BDC is a fantastic place to present our new Spring Collection and gather initial feedback. With this innovation day we were able to answer customer questions directly, which highlights which finer details we should focus on when liaising with Bunzl sales teams to create a strong communication plan.”

Simon Britten, Head of Marketing at Lockhart Catering Equipment, says:

“Working collaboratively with other Bunzl subsidiaries means we maximise our reach into our customer base and allows us to fine tune these events for each, whether it’s the latest developments in food packaging from Bunzl Catering Supplies, planned preventative maintenance for appliances via Aggora, or tabletop innovation from Lockhart.”

Jon Biddle, Head of Wholesale Procurement at WSH, concluded:

“Bunzl is a valued strategic partner, and the bespoke Innovation Day tailored for WSH brands was a great opportunity to unite the Bunzl Catering & Hospitality Division group. The event gave us a chance to connect with the teams, explore products, and deepen our product knowledge. It also provided a platform to share some of the exciting innovations and upcoming initiatives we’re launching to support our ESG commitments. We’re looking forward to building on this and collaborating again in the future.”