Red Funnel has announced that it will welcome Sainsbury’s as a new partner for its food and beverage offering across the business, which will also include the introduction of Rollover hot dogs and Tango Ice Blast slushes.
A range of Sainsbury’s products will be introduced on board Red Funnel’s vehicle ferries and terminals, starting with Red Falcon this March along with the company’s Southampton vehicle ferry terminal.
The new supplier partnership will bring passengers a range of fantastic quality Sainsbury’s products, offering improved choice and a more expansive range to those travelling to/from the Isle of Wight as well as a convenient option for those living and working near the terminals. The ‘On the Go’ range has been tailored for passengers and local customers, including ready-to-eat products such as sandwiches, wraps and snacks.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, says:
“We are delighted to welcome Sainsbury’s into the Red Funnel family and bring their exciting range to our customers.
“We regularly ask our customers for feedback on what we can do to better their travel experience and improving our food and beverage offer was a key focus. The addition of Sainsbury’s fantastic quality On the go products, alongside a number of other new catering and retail additions, will help us provide customers with the products and ranges they have requested, where and when they want it, and will further enhance our commitment to ensuring great customer service.”
Michael Luck, Director of Business Development at Sainsbury’s, adds:
“We are pleased to be working with Red Funnel to bring a tailored range of Sainsbury’s On the go products to ferry passengers and local customers, offering them a greater choice of food and drink. This is an exciting new partnership for Sainsbury’s and will help us offer even more customers great quality and choice, whenever and wherever they choose to shop.”
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In addition to welcoming Sainsbury’s On the go, Red Funnel will also offer Lavazza Coffee through terminal and on-board self-serve machines, Rollover hot dogs, and Tango Ice Blast slush drinks.
Red Funnel will continue to maintain its barista service via its ‘Steam’ café bars and its on-board hot food service in the ‘ReFuel’ café restaurant, well-known for its signature ‘Red Funnel Breakfast’ and beer-battered fish & chips. Passengers familiar with ReFuel will be pleased with the improved variety of coffee offering, which will now feature Lavazza. Those choosing meals with inclusive coffee will now be able to select any medium coffee beverage with their meal, including specialty coffees such as lattés and cappuccinos.
The addition of Rollover Hot Dogs and Tango Ice Blast slush drinks will come as a welcome new option, particularly for families looking to keep the kids happy with their favourite treats during the summer months and school holidays.
The full range of food, beverage and retail products will be added across the business on a gradual, rolling basis, with an aim for a full-scale roll-out to be completed by June.
On top of enhancing its catering offer, Red Funnel will also expand its line of retail products, balancing the needs of commuters/locals and with those of holidaymakers. The newly enhanced retail range will include health and beauty goods, travel and digital accessories, confectionary, toys, gifts and souvenirs.
Red Funnel is also developing its range of Island-based products, including stocking more Island-based beers, ales and spirits such as the IOW Distillery’s Mermaid Gin and Goddard’s Ale of Wight. The company will feature a special section for Island-based gifts and products and will seek to work with local producers and suppliers to showcase their products.
Work is due to commence in Southampton in the coming weeks, beginning with the vehicle ferry terminal, and followed by the Red Jet terminal later in the spring. As well as improving the layout for the expanded product lines and Sainsbury’s On the go products, the terminal renovations will be accompanied by upgrades to the ticket office kiosk and general customer seating areas. Passengers can expect a modern new look for the waiting area, complete with comfortable and contemporary lounge-style seats.
Those travelling through the Southampton vehicle ferry terminal during off-peak hours will also have greater access to late night / early morning refreshments as more 24-hour vending machines will be installed in the customer waiting area.
Fran Collins adds:
“The next few months will be full of activity both on board and at our Southampton terminals, and I’d like to thank our customers in advance for bearing with us as we undergo the necessary renovations to offer them more choice and better value. Once our entire new range is fully rolled-out and all renovations are complete, I hope you’ll agree that the changes will be worth the wait and that it’s going to be a delicious summer around Red Funnel!”
And will it be the same price as in the shops of sainsbury’s ?
Snowballs and hell come to mind!
Last time on a ferry, I’m sure I saw a sausage roll from a well known IoW bakery priced at over £3. I was hungry but not that hungry.
I wouldn’t touch any ferry food, and certainly nothing from Sainsbury’s