Whether you are an independent operator, part of a larger chain, a retailer or a caterer, membership gives you access to advice and resources to help you run your business, while supporting the Association's work to represent the interests of the food to go sector.
Who is Retail Membership for?
Retail Membership is for businesses selling sandwiches and food to go directly to consumers.
This includes independent sandwich bars and cafés, multiple-site operators, high street and convenience retailers, caterers and other businesses operating within the food to go market.
What does Retail Membership include?
Advice and guidance
Members have access to the Association's helpline services, guidelines and practical advice, including technical and legal guidance together with HR and employment support.
Primary Authority advice
Members are covered by the Association's Primary Authority Agreement. By following the Association's Assured Advice, members have an additional level of protection if challenged by Environmental Health Officers on matters covered by that advice.
Members can also use the Association's Primary Authority and Government links to seek clarification on specific issues, including labelling.
The Food to Go Guide
Members have access to the Food to Go Guide, bringing together practical guidance across areas including food safety, fire safety and employment law. It also includes Assured Advice covered by the Association's Primary Authority Agreement.
Training
Members can access discounted online training provided in partnership with specialist training providers.
Industry information
Regular member bulletins help keep you and your colleagues informed about changes in legislation, industry developments and other issues that could affect your business.
Colleagues within member businesses can also be registered to receive these updates.
Webinars
Members can take part in an ongoing programme of informative webinars covering subjects relevant to running a food to go business, from employment law and new legislation to technology and operational issues.
Where recordings are made available, members can also access the information at a time that suits them.
Meetings, networking and working groups
Membership provides opportunities to meet other businesses, share information and discuss issues of common interest through meetings, webinars and industry working groups.
Working groups bring together retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and specialists to consider particular challenges facing the sector and identify practical solutions.
A voice for retailers and operators
Running a food to go business means dealing with decisions and regulations made far beyond your own premises. An important part of the Association's role is making sure the industry's perspective is heard when those decisions are being made.
The Association engages with Government and other organisations on issues affecting retailers and the wider food to go sector. Areas of work have included labour, packaging and environmental issues, nutrition policy and food safety.
Where an issue particularly affects sandwiches or food to go, the Association can represent the collective interests of members and raise concerns on behalf of the industry.
Support when issues arise
Members can access advice and support when dealing with issues that affect their businesses or the wider industry.
This includes support in dealing with the media, with the Association able to act as an industry spokesperson where appropriate and help members respond to potentially negative publicity.
Promoting the industry
Membership connects retailers and operators with wider Association activity designed to support and promote the food to go market.
This includes British Sandwich Week, the annual celebration of one of the UK's most important food to go categories, and the Sandwich Industry Awards – the Sammies, which recognise achievement and good practice across the industry.
The Sammies also provide an opportunity to meet businesses and individuals from across the sector, with members receiving discounted places at the awards dinner.
Industry magazines
Members can receive copies of Sandwich & Food to Go News and Café Life, helping you keep up with new products, ideas, developments and businesses across the market.
Additional colleagues within member businesses can also register to receive the magazines.
Membership recognition
Retail Members receive a membership certificate to display in their business and can use the Association membership logo in their own marketing.
Membership demonstrates your connection with the wider food to go industry and your support for the work of its representative Association.
Interested in Retail Membership?
If you'd like to discuss Retail Membership or find out whether it's the right membership for your business, contact:
Andy Williams
Membership Accounts Manager
Telephone: 01291 636341
Email:
