Brusco is proud to announce that it has been officially recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ 2025, earning a spot in the ‘Small & Medium’ size category.

This recognition, awarded by Great Place To Work® UK, highlights Brusco’s unwavering commitment to creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to deliver the very best for customers every day.

At the time of being awarded certification, 74% of our team said Brusco is a great place to work; this has since increased to 93%, compared to just 54% at a typical UK company.

Being named on this prestigious list reflects more than just a positive workplace culture. For the Brusco team, it’s a celebration of the trust, collaboration, and shared purpose that fuels their work. For customers and suppliers, it’s a reassurance that the people behind the brand are engaged, passionate, and proud to deliver a positive experience across the board.

Brusco is more than a workplace; it’s a people-first environment where employees are supported, rewarded, and given room to grow. From comprehensive health benefits and wellbeing support to specialist training and clear career progression, Brusco invests in its team’s personal and professional success.

Hard work is recognised through awards, bonuses, and profit sharing, while community spirit is fostered through social events, volunteering opportunities, and an inclusive culture.

“We are incredibly proud that Brusco has once again been recognised again as one of the UK’s best workplaces in our sector. Every individual contributes to our exceptional team culture, and we know that when our team thrives, our customers benefit too.”
— Jacqui Wren, Group People Director

“Our people are at the heart of everything we do, so earning a place on this list is something we’re incredibly proud of. It validates our belief that by investing in our culture and supporting our teams, we build stronger relationships with our customers and our communities. This is not just an award for Brusco the company; it’s a recognition of the passion and dedication of our incredible people.”
— Mark Armstrong, Managing Director

Brusco’s continued inclusion on the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ 2025 list reinforces the organisation’s commitment to putting people first, employees, customers, and suppliers alike, while continuing to grow responsibly and bravely impacting the industry.

Brusco, is proud to announce that we have been awarded the highest possible rating, AA Grade BRCGS Agents and Brokers certification, with zero non-conformances following a rigorous independent audit.

The BRCGS Agents and Brokers Standard is a globally recognised benchmark for companies that source, trade, or distribute food products. The audit examines all aspects of operations, including supplier approval and monitoring, product traceability, risk management and legal compliance. Achieving an AA grade with zero non-conformances confirms that Brusco meets the highest possible standards for safety, integrity, and operational quality.

What This Means for Customers

For food manufacturers, this certification offers total confidence that every ingredient supplied by Brusco meets strict food safety, legal, and quality standards. Customers benefit from:

• Reduced supply chain risk through robust supplier approval and monitoring processes.
• Full traceability from source to delivery, ensuring complete transparency.
• Reliable compliance that supports their own BRCGS, retailer, and regulatory requirements.
• Consistent quality backed by rigorous checks and a culture of continuous improvement.

Dorota Serwecinska, Technical Manager, said:

“A zero non-conformance result is a fantastic achievement for our whole team. It proves our systems are robust, our communication is strong, and our commitment to food safety is embedded in everything we do.”

Mark Armstrong, Managing Director, commented:

“We don’t just prepare for audits; we live these standards every day. This result shows our customers they can rely on us for safe, high-quality ingredients and a partnership built on trust.”

Brusco supplies a wide range of ingredients to food manufacturers across the UK. With a focus on safety, quality, and transparency, Brusco is committed to delivering ingredients that help customers create great-tasting, compliant products every time.

Brusco Food Group, is proud to be Certified(TM) by Great Place To Work® for the 2nd year in a row.

The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Brusco. This year, 74% of employees said it’s a great place to work – 20% points higher than the average UK company.

100% of Brusco’s team said that when you join the company you are made to feel welcome. 97% said that people celebrate special events and 94% feel good about the ways in which Brusco contributes to the community.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviours proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasises that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Brusco stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

Mark Armstrong, Managing Director at Brusco Food Group, said:

“We are thrilled to be certified as a Great Place To Work®, as we know that a highly engaged workforce is key to the exceptional customer care we provide to our customers. We owe our continued success to our team of dedicated employees and this achievement just goes to show that it really is a great time to be working at Brusco.”

Jacqui Wren, Head of People at Brusco Food Group, added:

“We are very proud to have achieved Great Place to Work® certification for the second year running. This award is based purely on our team’s honest feedback about our workplace culture. We work hard every day to ensure we’re an employer of choice to attract, retain and develop the very best people to deliver our goals. Everyone at Brusco plays their part in making this a truly great place to work.”

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

Brusco Food Group has been named as the first business to achieve ‘Champion’ membership status in the Optima UK ‘Work Well, Live Better’ scheme.

Reaching ‘champion’ status shows that Brusco has taken consistent action in implementing positive changes to improve the health and wellbeing of their team. Brusco was awarded ‘Champion’ status after completing eight selected activities designed to enhance workplace health and wellbeing.

One of the most impactful initiatives embraced by the company was the ‘Orange Button Scheme’, which supports suicide-prevention and mental health awareness in the workplace.
After attending a ‘Work Well, Live Better’ event last year, three of Brusco’s Mental Health First Aid Champions signed up for the scheme. They now proudly wear Orange Buttons in the workplace, symbolising that they are approachable, trained, and available to support colleagues who may be struggling with mental health challenges.

Jacqui Wren, Head of People at Brusco Food Group, said:

“Brusco is proud to be part of Worcestershire’s Work Well Live Better scheme, and the People team have found the programme invaluable. Becoming the first ‘Champion’ member of the ‘Work Well, Live Better’ scheme marks a significant achievement for Brusco Food Group, and we hope to inspire other businesses to prioritise employee wellbeing and mental health.”

Mark Armstrong, Managing Director of Brusco Food Group, added:

“At Brusco we firmly believe that a healthy, supported workforce is the foundation of exceptional customer care. By creating an environment where our people feel valued, nurtured and empowered, we equip them to bring their best selves to work every day. This focus on wellbeing strengthens our workplace culture and enables our team to provide the trusted, quality service that our customers deserve.”

Work Well Live Better is a county-wide network in Worcestershire that facilitates the sharing and learning of best practice, as well as peer support and access to health and wellbeing resources and training. The scheme aims to provide information and support across the following key areas: Health & Wellbeing, Healthy Eating, Mental Health & Wellbeing Support, Physical Activity & Musculoskeletal Health (MSK), Sleep, Smoking, Alcohol & Substance Misuse and Workplace Culture & Environment.

Food ingredients specialist, Brusco, has appointed Mark Armstrong as its new Managing Director replacing Andrew Ashby who has been Managing Director since acquiring the business in 2015.

Mark took up the helm at Brusco on 18^th November and builds on a career of successful management positions, including most recently Managing Director of Nutrisure the UK’s leading superfood brand and ingredients company.

As well as holding the positions of Sales Director of Orchard Pig Cider, quadrupling revenue in 2 years leading to its sale to C&C and Head of Sales at Nelsons, making Teetha the No1 teething brand in the UK, Mark spearheaded the launch of sugar free Red Bull into the UK. His appointment represents a significant milestone in Brusco’s growth and development.

Mark will lead the Brusco team in their mission to be the preferred food ingredients partner for customers seeking collaborative supplier relationships that deliver value, insight and great service.

Mark Armstrong, Managing Director of Brusco, said: “I am delighted to be joining Brusco as the new Managing Director. For many years I’ve driven customer-focused growth strategies for various brands within the food industry. I look forward to bringing new ideas to Brusco and working together with our valued customers.”

“I’m excited for what the future holds and look forward to leading our talented team to success.”

Mark’s appointment sees Andrew Ashby take on the role of CEO for Olidor Group Ltd, where he will lead the continued growth of the group. In addition to Brusco, Olidor Group includes Karimix UK Ltd, The Original Baker Ltd, Porter Foods and The Artful Baker.

Andrew Ashby, CEO of Olidor Group, commented: “We’re delighted to have appointed a talent like Mark to lead Brusco through its next phase of growth. Mark brings a wealth of industry expertise which we believe will add significant value to our customers.”

The 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ list was launched this morning by Great Place To Work® UK, recognising Brusco Food Group among the list of organisations in the ‘Small & Medium’ category.

Over the last 18 months Brusco has introduced a range of initiatives to enhance the employee experience including a Specialist Training Guarantee to fund professional and personal development to help everyone at Brusco be the best they can be, developing expertise in their chosen fields. The company has also adopted enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay, and more flexible working to help colleagues balance their home and work lives.

Brusco’s team reported they feel good about the ways they give back to the community, with regular fundraising events and additional paid leave for voluntary work. This included raising £5K for several charities last year and fundraising for a defibrillator this year.

Brusco employees also value the inclusive culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves, are treated fairly and recognised for what they uniquely bring to the team.

As one survey respondent said, “the culture at Brusco is second to none, the vision for the company is clear and inspiring and the people are a joy to work with.”

Great Place To Work® UK administered their research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based retail, hospitality and leisure employees to determine the Best Workplaces™ list. The surveys asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

Analysis of the sector employee survey responses found:

• 78% of employees at the UK’s Best Workplaces for Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ say “I want to work here for a long time” compared to a UK average for sector of 56%

 Andrew Ashby, Managing Director of Brusco Food Group, said: “At Brusco we aspire to set the benchmark for quality, service and integrity in food ingredients, so customers can buy with confidence. Attracting and retaining the best talent is essential to achieving our goals and it therefore makes me incredibly proud for Brusco to be recognised by Great Place To Work® UK and is a tribute to the hard work of our fantastic team.”

 Jacqui Wren, Head of People at Brusco Food Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™. This really is a testament to the fantastic team ethic we have here at Brusco and the passion that we all have for our roles and wider industry. We know that highly engaged employees go the extra mile, and that’s one of the reasons Brusco is known for offering a high-quality service to our customers.”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said: “The companies included in our 2024 Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure list have shown they’re champions of recruitment and retention, successfully addressing and providing for the unique needs of their people. Today we celebrate these workplaces where leaders don’t just want their people to stay – they actively invest in supporting them to flourish.  Huge congratulations to Brusco Food Group for making this prestigious list.”

For more information on why Brusco is such a great place to work, visit the company’s website: www.brusco.co.uk

—ENDS—

 About Great Place To Work®

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, on a mission to make every company a great workplace for all. Every year, they receive direct feedback from over 10 million workers around the world telling us how they really feel about their employer. Their survey is completely confidential and anonymous, so people can feel comfortable to be honest about their workplace, and companies can gain detailed insights into how they can better serve their people.

Only those employers who have the highest levels of trust, job satisfaction, and who empower ALL their employees to thrive both in and outside of work are awarded official Best Workplaces™ recognition.

For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk

Team Brusco are excited to announce that we have yet again maintained our ‘AA’ Grade at our recent BRCGS Agents and Brokers audit!

A significant amount of work and investment goes on throughout the year to make sure we can provide our customers with the best possible technical service and top-quality ingredients.

This is a vital part of our aspiration, to set the benchmark for quality, service and integrity, so our customers can buy our products with confidence.

We are delighted to have achieved the AA grade and we will be working hard to maintain this high standard once again in 2025.

If you want to hear more about our technical capabilities, get in touch with the team on 01386 761 555 or info@brusco.co.uk.

We are pleased to share new season apricot pricing from our factories in Turkey:

• 2024 Crop Diced Apricots 6 x 8mm
  Shipments from Turkey August Onwards
  £2.85/kg
• 2024 Crop Whole Apricots, No4
  Shipments from Turkey August Onwards
  £5.10/kg

* Prices quoted are Ex-Works from our UK store. FCL & mixed container load pricing available.

Our Apricots Category Manager, Cindy Morrissette, is available to provide the latest information and market insights on apricots.

Cindy has spent 15 years in the industry, specialising in key ingredients like dried fruit, coconut, vegetables and freeze-dried ingredients. She is always happy to share her insight and provide updates on the latest market developments.

Cindy is on hand to discuss any questions you have on the apricot market, so get in touch on cindy.morrissette@brusco.co.uk.

Alternatively, contact the team on 01386 761 555 or info@brusco.co.uk for any quotes, or specification information, or to send your expected volumes.

Brusco Food Group has unveiled its Ingredients Crop Calendar, an easy to use tool designed to inform how and when Buyers and NPD teams purchase their ingredients.

Developed by a team of highly experienced category managers, Brusco has created the crop calendar through collaborative work with farmers, producers and suppliers to share the planting, harvesting and best contracting times per origin, enabling buyers to save money.

Key features of the ingredient crop calendar include:

• Origins – Understand the crop cycle by origin and product.
• Planting and harvesting dates – Learn when planting and harvesting takes place so that buyers can gain full visibility of crop quality and quantity.
• Best time to buy – Usually influenced by the harvesting dates, buyers will be able to see when is the right time to lock in the best prices for different ingredients.

Neil Burton, Category Manager for Herbs, Spices and Dehydrates at Brusco Food Group, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the Ingredients Crop Calendar, a game-changing tool that empowers our customers to make the right buying decisions. By sharing key information and industry insights, it helps our customers plan their yearly purchasing needs and get the best possible price for that particular ingredient.”

The Ingredients Crop Calendar is now available to download on Brusco’s website, www.brusco.co.uk

For more information or to request a hard copy version, contact the Brusco team by emailing enquiries@brusco.co.uk.

New Product Launch : Freeze-Dried Ingredients 

The freeze-dried ingredients retain up to 98% of vital vitamins and nutrients. Freeze-dried fruits keep all their natural sweetness, they contain no added sugars or sweeteners and are also free from additives and preservatives.

There are several additional benefits to freeze-dried ingredients, including:

• Reduce colour bleed in bakery and dessert applications
• Maintain the microbiological stability of finished products
• Free from additives and preservatives

Freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and herbs also typically offer a 18-24 month shelf life without the need for refrigeration. This reduces energy consumption and the risk of food spoilage.

The following ingredients are now available:

• Raspberry
• Chives
• Blueberry (whole)
• Blueberry (crumb)
• Peas
• Mango (powder)
• Strawberry (sliced)
• Strawberry (diced)

To place your order, or to organise a quote, talk to the Brusco team today on 01386 761555 or email info@brusco.co.uk