Scalable fulfilment with Diamond Logistics Bristol to support growth
Client: Gourmet Partners
Location: Diamond Logistics Bristol
Technology: Despatchlab
Sector: Artisan food distribution, retail and e-commerce fulfilment
Helping independent food brands access national markets
Gourmet Partners launched in 2020 with a single distributor and a clear goal to help independent food brands reach more retailers without supply chain complexity.
Five years later, that goal has become a well-developed network. Gourmet Partners now works with 13 distributors, supplies major retailers including Waitrose, and supports a growing portfolio of artisan food brands across the UK. As the business expanded, it became clear that a more flexible logistics and fulfilment partner was needed than the original model allowed.
“I didn’t want all my eggs in one basket. I wanted a smarter, more flexible way to support lots of small brands nationally.”
That thinking led to Brand Builders, a distribution approach focused on shared fulfilment, lower delivery costs and national reach while keeping a personal, hands-on service.
Why Diamond Logistics Bristol was selected
Gourmet Partners chose Diamond Logistics Bristol because it combines local presence with national logistics capability and a culture of support. Diamond Logistics has been helping UK businesses with delivery, fulfilment and storage since the early 1990s, growing from same day courier services to nationwide fulfilment and distribution solutions.
The Diamond Logistics Bristol site offers:
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Courier services, including same day, next day and international delivery.
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E-commerce fulfilment, with pick and pack capability integrated into live logistics systems.
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Outsourced warehousing and distribution, managing inventory, storage and delivery from one location.
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Micro-fulfilment options that help reduce delivery times and costs by locating stock close to customers.
For Gourmet Partners, the Bristol site was attractive because it is well connected and within easy reach of key routes in and out of the South West, letting the team quickly collect samples, attend retailer meetings and keep close oversight of stock.
But the real difference came after stepping inside the warehouse.
“Once I met the team and saw how they worked, it just clicked. It felt collaborative, like we were part of the same team.”
Unlike providers that focus mainly on pallet distribution, Diamond Logistics Bristol supports small-parcel fulfilment alongside large distribution, letting Gourmet Partners handle mixed orders, smaller consignments and direct-to-consumer fulfilment efficiently.
Logistics that support growth and manage costs
Many traditional logistics providers put pallets at the centre of their operations, which can be restrictive for brands sending smaller, more varied orders. With Diamond Logistics Bristol, Gourmet Partners gained the ability to:
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Ship smaller consignments tailored to retailer and consumer demand
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Lower delivery costs for independent retailers through a mix of courier and pallet services
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Scale into omnichannel fulfilment without disrupting operations
This approach reflects what Diamond Logistics emphasises for its clients: flexible, technology-enabled logistics that adapt to business needs rather than forcing businesses into rigid models.
Technology that underpins visibility and control
A key part of this capability is the Despatchlab platform. It provides a single logistics management interface where orders, stock data and invoicing are synchronised in real time. This helps teams in different locations work from the same live information and reduces errors or delays.
“It’s intuitive. Orders move through easily, invoices are straightforward, and everyone sees the same data. That’s huge for us.”
This level of transparency and control aligns with Diamond Logistics’ broader technology-driven fulfilment offerings, which include integration with marketplace and e-commerce systems and access to over 30 carriers and multiple marketplaces through Despatchlab.
A logistics partner that feels like part of the team
What stood out most for Gourmet Partners was the relationship with the Diamond Logistics Bristol team. The company has a customer-first approach, emphasising responsiveness, clarity and support. This matches Diamond Logistics’ mission of shared success with clients and network partners.
“If there’s a question, it gets answered. If someone doesn’t know, you get a response quickly. It feels warm, human and collaborative.”
This kind of engagement matters for businesses that want a logistics partner to be more than just a warehouse. Gourmet Partners doesn’t just distribute products; it becomes part of its clients’ operations, and having a logistics partner that works in a similar way makes all the difference.
What this means for brands considering Diamond Logistics
With Diamond Logistics Bristol in place, Gourmet Partners has a scalable model to support:
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National food brand distribution
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Small and mixed SKU orders
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Retail and e-commerce growth
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Lower delivery costs for retailers
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A future-ready supply chain
This reflects the broader value proposition Diamond Logistics positions to clients: logistics and fulfilment that grow with your business, using both local expertise and national reach to meet changing needs.
