Aztek Logistics seals supply chain deal with pasta import experts Specialist Foods

High-end accredited logistics are playing a key role in maintaining Britain’s love affair with authentic Italian food as the UK’s biggest importer of pasta continues to experience record demand for the wheat-based staple.

From lasagne to linguini, fettucine to fusilli, demand for southern Italian pasta from the Naples region where it originated has continued beyond the high watermark of the panic-buying months of the first lockdown, with orders not returning to pre-pandemic levels for Hertfordshire-based Specialist Foods, the UK agent for prestige brand Pasta Garofalo.

The business, which also trades through the Gustalia name and imports coffee, rice and oils, as well as pesto and pasta sauces, continues to ship a wide range of pasta varieties into the country in 17 tonne containers ready for distribution to the UK’s retail sector, including independent outlets, food wholesalers and prestige online grocer, Ocado.

We’ve agreed a long-term collaborative partnership with Specialist Foods to manage its UK storage and onward distribution in the UK, following our recent reaccreditation to British Retail Consortium (BRC) AA standard and our Organic Food Federation certification – both factors that helped us seal the deal.

Managing director of Specialist Foods, Mal Pullan said: “Aztek’s organic accreditation was an important factor – the partners we chose had to tick that box,” he said.

“In Italy we have achieved the BRC higher accreditation and we also have recognition from the Soil Association, so recognised standards of high-quality storage were essential.

“Aztek has built a brand-new warehouse close by, which was perfect for our requirements. They are also very easy to deal with – I have a dedicated team of account handlers with whom I maintain daily contact.”

Our managing director, Stuart Charter, said: “Specialist Foods and the high-end brands it represents needed reassurance that their products are in good hands and will arrive at their destination in pristine condition.

“We have a good relationship based on trust and expertise in the food market that can flex to the demands of not only securing supplies during a global crisis, but providing that level of response while maintaining the highest standards.”