MD Appointment For Burgeoning Hospitality IT Company

 

 

Nationally-operating hospitality IT specialist Fretwell-Downing Hospitality (FDH) has appointed Nick Prime as managing director.

 

Mr Prime, who has been with FDH for 20 years, moves into the role at a time when the company is seeing strong growth in its existing markets and is embarking on expansion into new market sectors.

 

In contrast to the economic downturn, the independent software house is forecasting 10% growth for the coming year on a current turnover that is in excess of £2.5 million.

 

The company has already seen a significant increase in sales over the last 12 months for its core web-enabled products, management information and nutritional analysis software.

 

Alongside Mr Prime’s appointment, the sales team has been boosted with two further appointments, Jodie Nicholls and Nigel Adams, bringing total staff numbers to 26.

 

Mr Prime comments: “By working in partnership with our customers to deliver a software solution that suits their particular requirements, we have built a strong client base in the contract catering and local authority sectors.

 

“Having developed our software further we are now making inroads into new markets, particularly with our nutritional analysis software as more restaurants, takeaways and workplace caterer’s sign up to the Food Standards Agency’s initiative to inform customers of the nutritional content of the meals being served.”

 

“Overseas we are also striking up promising partnerships, particularly in Sweden which has a similar corporate structure to the UK.”

 

 

 

Independent software house Fretwell-Downing Hospitality (FDH), based in Sheffield, who operate as a separate company from the family-owned Fretwell-Downing business is now carving out other successful niche markets, in particular through the development of nutritional analysis technology.

 

For the coming year, the company is forecasting 10% growth on a current turnover that is in excess of £2.5 million, having already achieved a 23% increase in sales over the last 12 months.  In particular, it is forecasting expansion of sales of its web-based nutritional analysis technology both in the UK and overseas as the drive towards healthier eating continues.

 

The Saffron Nutrition nutritional analysis system has already become a market leader in the school meals sector as a support for local authority caterers in meeting the Government’s Nutrient Standards.

 

With the Food Standards Agency now encouraging greater numbers of restaurant chains, independent eateries and workplace caterers to provide healthier choices and nutritional information to diners, demand for supporting technology to achieve both aims, is set to grow.

 

As Nick Prime, FDH’s managing director explains: “We have seen a noticeable increase in enquiries from the wider hospitality sector, whether its contract caterers, restaurant chains, or environmental health departments of local authorities who are now being asked to audit and advise on healthier menus for the independent restaurants and foodservice outlets.

 

“We are also beginning to make inroads into markets overseas, particularly in Sweden which has a similar corporate structure and approach to the UK.”