Putting the customer at the heart of everything
The demand for Catering Disposables products has been boosted in recent years by the popularity of online delivery as well as multi-purpose packaging and environmentally-friendly options
T he next time you buy a takeaway coffee or salad, there’s a good chance that the rather nicelooking packaging it comes in will have passed through the hands of Irish family business Catering Disposables.
The company, which was started by James Dowling in 2003, specialises in the distribution of disposable food packaging, cleaning and hygiene products, as well as the branding and customisation of packaging.
Dowling had previously run the highly successful company Vending Products for several decades, and his son James and daughter Sharon have since come on board at Catering Disposables.
With a staff of 35, the business has recorded double digit growth in the past three years. Ensconced in a 100,000 sq ft facility in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, it recently opened a brand new showroom.
What distinguishes Catering Disposables from its competitors is the fact that it does not go directly to the end user; rather it sells to wholesalers, and can be found in all Irish distributors and cash and carry facilities (such as Musgrave Group and Pallas Foods).
“We see our customers almost as our own sales reps, so we are heavily focused on helping them with their marketing,” says Sharon Dowling. “We want to make sure they are selling the correct products.”
About 90% of the company’s products are sourced from the Far East, Europe or America; it imports about five 40ft containers’ worth a day. Little wonder then that the company’s biggest challenges are withstanding currency fluctuations and maintaining cash flow. “You buy up front and then have 30 or 60 days with the customer [before being paid], so you have to have a big cash flow,” says Dowling.
She says demand for its products has been boosted by the growth of online ordering services such as Deliveroo and JustEat. Their popularity has led to restaurants which previously didn’t deliver starting to embrace the trend.
More customers are also looking for food containers with environmentally friendly credentials. While this was once a decidedly costly option, it is not quite so pricey any more. There is also plenty of demand from festival organisers, given that most music festivals are now almost as well-known for their food options as for their entertainment.
And while the ubiquitous foam burger box still sells, most customers now want something a bit fancier. “Many also want more multi-purpose packaging, so we try to be innovative,” says Dowling.
For the future, Dowling wants to see the company’s double-digit growth continue, and to invest more in IT to enhance reporting and be able to monitor the business more effectively. “You don’t want to be a busy fool, you want to get the right information and focus on the right areas.”
Although the company does sell to the UK, its focus for now is on the home market. “There’s still loads of potential, and we want to do everything right here before we look further afield,” Dowling notes.
“There’s still loads of potential, and we want to do everything right here before we look further afield”