Last Course Patisserie Ltd is a small private limited company based in Devon which produces hand-made desserts and puddings. All of the desserts are made fresh to order, which has provided Last Course Patisserie with a reputation for being flexible when meeting customer needs.
Getting the best ingredients for the desserts is a vital part of the business. Last Course Patisserie found excellent suppliers of free range eggs and dairy products, as well as different types of flour such as soy flour and oat flour, to accommodate various allergens. The company prides itself on the highly trained sales staff who are able to advise customers about the ingredients used.
This has proved to be very popular with customers and the business now wishes to expand. Last Course Patisserie is considering setting up its own small chain of retail outlets to sell directly to customers in the Devon area or whether to supply their products to third party retail outlets such as bakery chains and coffee shops.
Last Course Patisserie is aware its products contain many allergens and knows it must comply with consumer law to display the ingredients of the products on sale. As the products are made to order, the list of ingredients can change frequently and need careful monitoring. Staff must be highly trained to keep up with the changing product range. During staff breaks and holidays, accurate knowledge hand-over to new staff is crucial for consumer safety. The management are concerned that third-party retailers may not have the same attention to detail and will not train their staff to a high level on their products.