Performance Improvement in the Private Sector
Bourne Leisure partnered with 4C Associates to transform its food and beverage supply chain, unlocking £21m in savings while enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and guest experience.
Bourne Leisure is one of the UK’s leading holiday and holiday home businesses, welcoming over four million guests each year. Its portfolio includes Haven, the UK’s largest caravan holiday operator, and Warner Leisure Hotels, offering exclusive adult-only retreats, and recently divested Butlins, providing active seaside holidays. Employing a team of 16,500 people, Bourne Leisure’s brands cater to families, couples, and holiday homeowners alike.
Facing unique supply chain complexities amid the post-Covid cost-of-living crisis, Bourne Leisure launched a 14-month transformation programme across its three brands engaging 4C Associates to transform its food and beverage supply chain with a mission to balance cost efficiency with value, and future-proof operations against inflationary pressures.
Each brand needed a tailored, yet aligned approach to procurement, distribution, and menu development, to support the planned 50% surge in food and beverage demand over the next five to seven years – requiring a supply chain built for today and fit for the future. In addition, there was a need to consolidate the supplier base, manage costs across seasonal peaks, and ensure sustainability across the operational model.
The complex programme tackled inefficiencies, streamlined procurement, and leveraged economies of scale to unlock £21 million in savings – a 12% improvement despite an 18% spike in food price inflation. In addition, 120 cost-optimised menu items were introduced, enabling internal teams to focus on strategic priorities.
The transformation delivered operational improvements, with service levels reaching 98% and rising, alongside the implementation of paperless delivery technology to boost accuracy and efficiency – withstanding the divestment of Butlins mid-process, ensuring that both Bourne Leisure and Butlins could still benefit from the new, optimised model.
4C Associates deployed a phased approach that included a strategy review, execution, implementation, and transition. Key changes included transitioning to a specialist wholesale supplier, optimising menu items for cost-effectiveness, and introducing a centralised supply chain model that enabled Bourne Leisure to negotiate better pricing and streamline operations.
A data-driven analysis identified inefficiencies, enabling a redefined supply chain that balanced brand differentiation with cost control and a new strategic supplier partnership that fostered innovation, enhanced traceability, and strengthened food safety protocols. Sustainability was embedded throughout the entire supply chain, cutting carbon emissions through supplier consolidation, reducing food waste, and ensuring full visibility from farm to fork.
A detailed evaluation process saw over 900 new products sampled, with every item taste-tested by chefs and procurement specialists to guarantee quality and value. An open-book pricing model ensured full transparency, while supplier partnerships evolved beyond logistics into true collaborations through supporting chef development and menu innovation days. This was coupled with embedding 4C Associates’ expertise within Bourne Leisure’s internal teams, ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer and self-sufficiency in managing the optimised system.
Beyond cost savings, this supply chain transformation enabled Bourne Leisure to continue providing affordable, high-quality UK holiday experiences even during the cost-of-living crisis. By blending efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, the partnership between Bourne Leisure and 4C Associates has set an industry benchmark that ensures UK families can continue to enjoy memorable, economical breaks.
View the 4C Associates profile in the MCA Members Directory.