I currently work for Reynolds Catering Supplies, only been there for a few weeks, but I also applied for Bidvest around the same sort of time as Reynolds.
Many of our drivers are ex Bidvest, and say it’s not a good place to work, however my friend works for them and says it’s fine.
The issue I have with Reynolds is having to pick the bulk by hand, and sometimes it can be annoying looking for a tiny little box that’s hidden under a 30 kilo bag of spuds. It’s very rarely palletised and more often than not I’m sent on a route that I don’t know, with a drivers mate who also doesn’t know, and then I get moaned at for being late back to the depot.
Just curious if there’s any current employees of Bidvest (preferably the Hoddesdon depot), as I’ve just been offered a class two job there and would like a more in depth comparison, rather than just being told by a mate that it’s “alright”.
Radar19:
Its pretty much the same. All that sort of work is. If I were you, i’d be seriously looking at doing general rather than catering supplies.
+1 on that , I used to work for [zb] food service out of Fareham all bulk picked cleaning products in with food
Now doing general haulage ave 2 nights out a week and no arsey Chefs moaning because your late or some thing wasn’t in stock and no cash handling
I used to work for Reynolds in Waltham Cross. I started at 11pm and found the nights draining as I had young kids awake in day. Found the work easy always got the same route and knew every drop. Only left to work days.
Radar19:
Its pretty much the same. All that sort of work is. If I were you, i’d be seriously looking at doing general rather than catering supplies.
+1 on that , I used to work for hunts ![zb] food service out of Fareham all bulk picked cleaning products in with food
Now doing general haulage ave 2 nights out a week and no arsey Chefs moaning because your late or some thing wasn’t in stock and no cash handling
They’re on annualised hours, long days heavy work on stuff like KFC, Greene King pubs etc. I was at a GK pub for a meal last week when Bidvest were delivering. Driver lugged a heavy wobbly pallet of chilled across the rough tarmac car park to the door of the kitchen, after about 15 minutes the poor sod had to drag more than half of it back with bits of stock falling off, cars and customers dodging around him etc. He had to bump the pallet up onto the tai lift with more stuff falling off etc. Finally gets it in the wagon and was in the back for a good 15 to 20 minutes I assume sorting more stock out.
I’ve worked with people who’ve been dazzled by the high salary (they pay it for a reason) and they soon jacked and found a job that paid the normal class 2 rates.
Food service work is an annoying PITA IMO. As someone has already said you have silly o’clock starts and shift times, finding somewhere remotely near the drop, lug the stuff once found over crap surfaces and then encounter ignorant kitchen staff.
Go with the general haulage/tipper work sectors, sensible hours and in the main more sociable customers.
Wardaddy:
Food service work is an annoying PITA IMO. As someone has already said you have silly o’clock starts and shift times, finding somewhere remotely near the drop, lug the stuff once found over crap surfaces and then encounter ignorant kitchen staff.
Go with the general haulage/tipper work sectors, sensible hours and in the main more sociable customers.
Sounds exactly like what I’ve done Now working for a haulage firm starting at 6am earliest home by 6ish if not on night out
no Saturday working or Diva head chefs or cash
is there anyone out there that actually enjoys the food service work? i was farmed out for a day to Nisa,delivering around the West Mids in an artic…that was enough for me!
4 months I’ve been at it. In through an agency, contract after 12 weeks. Not bidvest but a similar outfit.
The job itself I don’t mind. It’s the appalling attitude of the planners and management which irks me and has moved me to update my cv and get it online this weekend.
Yes I am new but I get the worst route that no-one wants 90% of the time while the blue-eyed get to potter around the easy routes. I’m also constantly lied to in the mornings to get me out on the road.
SuperMultiBlue:
4 months I’ve been at it. In through an agency, contract after 12 weeks. Not bidvest but a similar outfit.
The job itself I don’t mind. It’s the appalling attitude of the planners and management which irks me and has moved me to update my cv and get it online this weekend.
Yes I am new but I get the worst route that no-one wants 90% of the time while the blue-eyed get to potter around the easy routes. I’m also constantly lied to in the mornings to get me out on the road.
I start with Bidvest next week, the manager at the interview couldn’t stress enough that it’s not your typical driving job and said that in fact your only driving 50% to 60% of the time and the rest is lumping and ■■■■■■■. Not a problem for me as im moving from a supermarket ambient depot so used to alot of handballing stock. The moneys good but it’s a trade off i suppose, sit on your backside all day for £8 ph or do a bit of graft for decent pay.
A mate of mine does food service and although has the stock picked and loaded, has to find each piece of stock at the delivery location. ■■■■ that, that’s shopping, not driving.
Sorry but if I ever get told to handball a load off I shall expect a labourers’ wage on top of the drivers’ wage. AFAIAC my job as a driver ends once I’m at the delivery, doors/curtain opened. I have no interest in what the product is for, and I make it obvious I’m bored when the customer starts telling me about their order.
all bulk picked cleaning products in with food 
Now working for a haulage firm starting at 6am earliest home by 6ish if not on night out