Brake Bros
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food distribution |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | William Brake, Frank Brake, Peter Brake |
| Headquarters | Ashford, Kent , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, France |
| Products | Wholesale food supply, contract logistics solutions |
| Parent | Sysco Corporation |
Brakes (previously known as Brake Bros Ltd.) is a food distribution enterprise based in the United Kingdom, catering to the foodservice sector via more than 20 distribution centres.[1] The company provides wholesale food supply alongside contract logistics solutions.[2] Established in 1958 and with its headquarters in Ashford, Kent, Brakes became part of Sysco Corporation following a $3.1 billion acquisition completed on 5 July 2016.[3]
The company serves a diverse clientele including schools, contract caterers, hospitals, hotels, independent eateries, and prominent restaurant groups.
Brakes
Within Great Britain, Brakes encompasses various businesses and brands:
- Brakes
- Country Choice (which includes Bake & Bite)
- Sysco Speciality
- Prime Meats
- Brakes Catering Equipment
- Woodward Foodservice
Operating from its main office at Enterprise Park in Ashford, Brakes maintains several offices and customer service centres across the UK, including a London branch located in Covent Garden. It also operates distribution centres throughout the UK and France, each division managing its own headquarters.
UK depot sites include:
- Aylesford
- Bodelwyddan
- Bodmin
- Bridgend
- Brighton
- Corby
- Dundee
- Durham
- Eastleigh
- Grantham
- Harlow
- Hemsworth
- Inverness
- Newark
- Newhouse
- Peterlee
- Portbury
- Premier Park
- Reading
- Tamworth
- Thetford
- Warrington
Company history
| 2016 | Brakes was acquired by Sysco. |
| 2007 | Ownership transferred to Bain Capital from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. |
| 2005 | Entered a partnership with Nectar For Business, a corporate loyalty card scheme. |
| 2004 | Established the Food Innovation Centre in London’s Covent Garden to promote food showcasing and menu development. Introduced Prime Meats, a dedicated meat division emphasizing full traceability and transparency. |
| 2002 | Undertook a major rebranding initiative to consolidate all operations under the Brakes name. The Brake family divested their shares; Clayton, Dubilier & Rice purchased the company for £1.2 billion. |
| 1999 | Purchased Cearns & Brown (ambient goods supplier) and M&J Seafood (seafood specialist). |
| 1998 | Acquired Watson & Philip Foodservice, a provider of ambient and chilled groceries. |
| 1995 | Bought Puritan Maid, a contract distribution business. |
| 1992 | Entered a phase of significant expansion through acquisitions: Acquired Country Choice (bakery), launched Larderfresh (chilled foods), and extended operations into France by acquiring smaller distributors. |
| 1991 | Changed company name to Brake Bros Foodservice Ltd to signify growth beyond frozen food products. |
| 1986 | Listed on the stock exchange to support expansion efforts. |
| 1977 | Renamed Brake Bros (Frozen Foods) Ltd to reflect strategic repositioning. |
| 1974 | Discontinued poultry processing activities to concentrate on frozen food growth. |
| 1969 | Opened a cooked food production facility in Lenham, manufacturing multi-portion meals aimed at pubs. |
| 1963 | Expanded from poultry sales into frozen food distribution. |
| 1961 | Incorporated as Brake Bros (Poultry Packers) Ltd, focusing on poultry deliveries to caterers in Kent and London. |
| 1958 | Founded by William, Frank, and Peter Brake supplying poultry products to caterers; the founders had backgrounds in catering and LVS training. |
UK Acquisitions Following Public Listing in November 1986
| Woodward Foodservice Ltd | September | 2008 |
| Peters Food Services Ltd | November | 2004 |
| W Pauley & Co Limited | October | 2002 |
| Seafoodirect | August | 2002 |
| Scotia Campbell Marine Limited | October | 2001 |
| BertelloPeter | July | 2001 |
| Roach Frozen Foods | March | 2001 |
| Cearns & Brown Limited | July | 2000 |
| M&J Seafoods (Wholesale) Ltd | March | 2000 |
| Bayliss & Sons | August | 1999 |
| Watson & Philip Foodservice | October | 1998 |
| G R Tanner Co (Tanner Frozen Foods) | July | 1997 |
| Dairyfresh Desserts Limited | March | 1997 |
| Puritan Maid Limited | November | 1995 |
| P&B Fine Foods | October | 1995 |
| Woods Frozen Foods | March | 1995 |
| Runnymede Frozen Foods | July | 1994 |
| Jesse Robinson (Nottingham) Limited | February | 1994 |
| Country Choice Foods Group Limited | May | 1993 |
| Bentley's Frozen Foods Limited | April | 1993 |
| Feathers Fresh 'n' Frozen Foods Limited | March | 1993 |
| Deben Valley Foods | June | 1992 |
| Anderson's Frozen Foods Limited | May | 1992 |
| Double A Foods | April | 1992 |
| Peterson's Food Co. | March | 1992 |
| First Frozen Foods | March | 1992 |
| Everfresh Frozen Foods Limited | November | 1991 |
| London Larder Limited | September | 1991 |
| Peter Hooper Frozen Foods Limited | June | 1991 |
| Midfish Limited | March | 1991 |
| Rossfrost | November | 1990 |
| Peter Shaw Products | September | 1990 |
| Caterfrost | June | 1990 |
| Elmdale Foods Limited | May | 1990 |
| Spring Valley Foods Limited | December | 1989 |
| S H Wickett & Son Limited | October | 1989 |
| VJG Foods | April | 1989 |
| Cardigan Frozen Foods | February | 1988 |