May the best food man win
The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards are all about celebrating the achievements of the very best in the business. If you think your company's got what it takes, then you should be in there too. But you'll need to hurry as the deadline is fast approaching.
To maximise and encourage entries, we have extended the deadline for receipt of entries to July 14. But that doesn't leave much time, so don't delay - start putting your entry together today. More information and entry forms can be downloaded from our web site at http://www.foodmanawards.co.uk
As can be clearly seen from our industry survey, times for companies in food and drink manufacture are tougher than ever before. Ingredients, energy and fuel costs are soaring and customers are piling the pressure on their suppliers to contain any increases.
Against this harsh economic backdrop, it is really challenging to maintain margins and profitability. But that's precisely where truly great companies come into their own. And it will be precisely these exemplars of excellence that Food Manufacture will be celebrating on the evening of November 13 at The Marriott, Grosvenor Square in London.
Now in their eighth year, the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards include nine individual sector categories and three Skills Excellence Awards (see lists on p31). From the nine sector winners, the Food Manufacture Company of the Year will be selected.
Our eminent panel of judges will also make a Judges' Special Award to the company which, in their opinion, deserves special recognition for one particular area of its activities over the past year.
Judging for the individual categories is based on a set of criteria that covers: category management; marketing and new product development; supply chain improvement; quality assurance; health, safety and environmental management; process innovation; and human resources development.
However, it's not just the biggest firms or those with the deepest pockets that these awards seek to recognise. Launched last year, the Small Company of the Year - typically one employing fewer than 100 people in a total and having a turnover of less than £10M a year - will once again be made. Last year the Small Company of the Year award went to Pasta King UK, a very successful small business serving the school meals sector.
Food Manufacture readers will also be able to vote for the Personality of the Year (see p39) via an on-line poll (visit http://www.foodmanawards.co.uk to vote for your favourite personality). Last year's worthy winner was Helen Colley, md of Farmhouse Fayre, who boldly secured a listing with Tesco after standing up at a conference and asking Tesco boss Terry Leahy why the retailer did not stock her company's puddings.
In recognition of the fact that behind every great company are great, well trained and well motivated people, the food and drink sector skills council Improve is supporting three additional skills excellence awards: Apprenticeships; Diversity in Recruitment; and Productivity through Skills (see p40).
Download entry forms from http://www.foodmanawards.co.uk, call Nicola Chesson on 01293 867629 or email nicola.chesson@william-reed.co.uk. But don't forget, you only have until July 14 to get your entries in.
Award categories
Entries are judged within nine manufacturing categories:
l Ambient and General Groceries
l Bakery and Confectionery
l Beverages (hot and cold)
l Chilled Ready Meals and Prepared Foods
l Dairy
l Fresh Produce
l Frozen Foods
l Meat and Poultry
l Seafood
Skills Excellence Awards
The three awards in the skills category are:
l Apprenticeships
l Diversity in Recruitment
l Productivity through Skills
COMPANY OF THE YEAR - SPONSOR: FOOD MANUFACTURE
The Food Manufacture Company of the Year award is made for the very best of the best. The winner is selected by our independent panel of judges from the winners of the individual category awards.
Last year's winner was Arla Foods UK, which took the top prize as well as winning the award for best in Dairy.
Describing what it meant for Arla, Amanda Hinchliffe for the company, said: "To win the dairy Company of the Year award and then go on to take the award for Company of the Year 2007 is an exceptional achievement and endorsement of our commitment to consistent all-round excellence in food manufacturing."
Previous winners of this prestigious award have included Histogram, Tryton Foods, Ginsters and Coca-Cola Enterprises.
If you think your company has what it takes to be a winner, you need to enter before July 14 2008.
Judges' special award - Sponsor: Pursuit Dynamics
At its manufacturing facility, Pursuit Processing Equipment can provide the equipment that best suits your needs and budget, ranging from the innovative PDX customised solutions to the BPT range of traditional cooking and cooling systems.
The award winning PDX Sonic delivers fast, flexible and efficient liquid food processing, by reducing processing times and dramatically cutting clean in place requirements without compromising on quality or flavour. The novel design of the PDX Sonic enables it to homogenise, emulsify, entrain, pump and heat with impressive performance.
In 2005 BPT Skerman was integrated into Pursuit Processing Equipment giving its customers a wide range of versatile cooking and cooling equipment, from cooking vessels and brat pans to cooling units.
Whether it's a standalone piece of equipment or a fully automated processing line it has the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning expertise to supply your food processing requirements.
Pursuit Dynamics
Contact: Claire Issacs
Tel: 01480 422050
Email: fnyrf@chefhvgqlanzvpf.pbz
Website: http://www.pursuitdynamics.com
Small Company of the Year - Sponsor: Invest in Bradford
Invest in Bradford provides firms with the support and advice they need when considering investment projects. It is experienced in helping indigenous investors and targeting inwardly investing companies. It uses strong partnerships with Bradford Centre Regeneration, Yorkshire Forward, Bradford Chamber, the Airedale Partnership and private sector businesses to leverage the assistance required.
It offers advice on the availability of people, property, training, financial assistance and a thorough knowledge of the business community within the district.
It's not just Bradford's outstanding skills base that makes it the perfect choice for the food and drink sector. Rents and operating costs are lower than in many comparable areas. The local supply chain is strong, broad and dynamic. And producers based here can reach 40M consumers within four hours, thanks to the city's superb motorway links and the world-class transport and logistics companies standing by. Bradford's position on the M62 corridor offers a quick route to Leeds, Manchester and other large urban centres and provides easy access to both the east and west coasts - ideal for firms looking to import and export.
To find out more about how Invest in Bradford can help you or your clients access the opportunities in the Bradford area, please call the number below.
Invest in Bradford
Contact: Kevin Reed
Tel: 01274 47727
Email: xriva.errq@oenqsbeq.tbi.hx
Website: http://www.investinbradford.com
Ambient & general groceries - Sponsor: http://www.foodmanjobs.co.uk
Looking for new staff? The FoodManJobs website is dedicated to advertising posts in the food and drink manufacturing sector.
http://www.foodmanjobs.co.uk is an integral part of the Food Manufacture portfolio. The recruitment pages in Food Manufacture magazine include 30-40 pages of jobs every month. These also promote FoodManJobs to readers of Food Manufacture, who are key individuals in the sector. This, coupled with top billing on the leading search engines, means that people who are serious about their career know about the website.
As a direct result of this dedicated marketing activity, FoodManJobs benefits from around 25% of its overall target market regularly visiting the site - a figure unsurpassed by almost any other jobs website. The site also has thousands of users registered for email job alerts.
By presenting key food and drink employers and key recruitment consultancies, Food Manufacture and its website FoodManJobs is a concentrated marketplace where industry professionals expect to see their next job advertised.
Contact: Len Beckett
Tel: 01293 610372
Email: yra.orpxrgg@jvyyvnz-errq.pb.hx
Website: http://www.foodmanjobs.co.uk
Bakery and Confectionery - Sponsor: DKSH
Buzzwords: they're rubbish, aren't they? Some corporate jargon describing something you expect as standard in the usual convoluted way, just to make it seem more impressive. Why can't companies just tell it to you straight?
The best things in life are normally the simplest, after all. That's why DKSH works closely with its customers to make life as hassle-free as possible. It's also the reason it builds successful, productive relationships with its partners. How? Well, it doesn't only supply an expansive array of natural food ingredients from around the world, it offers the complete package. So the quality, technical, regulatory and marketing aspects are all covered, and DKSH will even bring you the tea - if it's green tea you're after!
DKSH is the UK's leading supplier of active health ingredients with access to the most innovative high technology products from around the world. For the last few years the company has helped the industry tackle fat, sugar and salt replacement and has provided options for fibre and vitamin addition. It has a proud knack of pre-empting, with a track record of anticipating emerging trends before they, well, emerge - look at how popular digestive health, cholesterol lowering and omega-3 products have become. Each new technology and product it supplies is supported with watertight scientific back-up. With EU legislation tightening up in the coming months, you'll welcome that peace of mind.
DKSH ... Naturally good at healthy ingredients.
DKSH
Contact: Kavan Ranasinghe
Tel: 020 8879 5507
Email: vasb@qxfu.pbz
Website: http://www.dksh.com
Beverages - sponsor: British Soft Drinks Association
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) is the national trade association representing the interests of UK producers of soft drinks, including carbonated drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices and bottled waters.
Members of the BSDA are responsible for the vast majority of products on the British soft drinks market.
The BSDA provides a range of services to its members. The main membership benefits include:
l Advice on all aspects of the industry, including technical standards, best practice and legislation;
l Advice and assistance on incident management;
l Inclusion in BSDA's online listing of soft drinks industry manufacturers and suppliers;
l Free access to the members' e-newsletter Drinks Focus, and a range of sector-specific publications;
l A range of training courses to suit industry needs, including manufacturing, food safety, microbiology and hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP). A a substantial discount is offered to members.
l The opportunity to attend the BSDA's annual Industry Lunch and network with key figures from government, industry bodies and associations, as well as members from the industry.
For more information about BSDA please contact: Julia Broad, training and membership manager.
British Soft Drinks Association
Contact: Julia Broad
Telephone: 020 7430 0356
Email: ofqn@oevgvfufbsgqevaxf.pbz
Website: http://www.britishsoftdrinks.com
Chilled Ready Meals & Prepared Foods - Sponsor: Jarvis Johnson
Jarvis Johnson is one of the UK's leading interim management and recruitment agencies for the food and drink manufacturing industry.
Jarvis Johnson offers a professional and thorough service, based on a solid understanding of the industry. Established in 1999, it has built up a database of over 16,000 professionals in the food manufacturing sector, giving its clients unrivalled access to the top performers.
Every consultant at Jarvis Johnson realises that the service they provide can have a major impact on the firm they deal with. They have a passion for doing the job properly, doing it differently from everyone else and they are totally dedicated to doing it right.
The benefits of using Jarvis Johnson are:
l Immediate access to the best database of fully qualified industry professionals for interim positions;
l A friendly, professional, 'can do', flexible approach;
l Competitive fees;
l Crystal clear billing;
l Flexible contracts and loyalty rewards;
l Reference-checked, qualified and screened shortlist of candidates;
l Access to personality profiling and interview questions to assist teams in their selection process;
l A culture of continuous improvement.
Jarvis Johnson
Contact: Lisa Johnson
Tel: 01302 760176
Email: vasb@wneivfwbuafba.pb.hx
Website: http://www.jarvisjohnson.co.uk
Dairy - Sponsor: Maxsys
Based in Telford, Maxsys is the developer and supplier of the Maxsys Fuel System. This widely adopted fuel treatment system pre-treats gas and oil prior to combustion achieving increased fuel efficiency, a cleaner burn and a lower carbon output.
Formally launched in 2004, the technology is enabling firms to achieve significant energy savings. The Maxsys Fuel System typically delivers in excess of 5% fuel savings to the industrial, commercial and public sectors at sites where large volumes of fuel are used.
One of the companies that has benefited from the reductions achievable through the Maxsys Fuel System is the First Milk Cheese Company at its Haverfordwest creamery. The company has installed the Maxsys system on its three boilers and as a result has reduced the oil consumed by 7.5%. This substantial saving allowed the company to recoup the outlay on its investment within an impressively brief 12-month period.
Maxsys Fuel Systems are installed across the UK and mainland Europe. Customers in the food and beverage sector include: First Milk, Findus and Dairy Crest.
Maxsys
Contact: Paul Finnegan
Tel: 01952 619539
Email: vasb@znkflfygq.pbz
Website: http://www.maxsysltd.com
Frozen Foods - Sponsor: Lockton Companies International
Lockton claims to be the world's largest privately owned global insurance broker and is currently ranked 10th in the world in Business Insurance's recent 'World's Largest Insurance Brokers' Survey'. In 2007, Lockton achieved over 13% organic growth, the 20th year of double digit organic growth.
The key to Lockton's success is its commitment to client service. The company has over 15,000 clients, 3,700 associates and places over £3bn premium into the insurance market globally.
Lockton is headquartered in London, with offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Belfast and Dublin and provides insurance and re-insurance broking, risk and insurance programme management and consulting, alternative risk finance and claims management. Lockton International is a partner in Eos Risq, Europe's leading insurance broking and risk management consultancy network.
The food processing and distribution industry is an area of particular focus for Lockton and a sector in which it has the experience and skills to deal with the sector's unique risks. Lockton's experience and knowledge has enabled clients to benefit from unparalleled programme design, insurance placement and service for even the most complex of circumstances.
Its market presence is based on developing strong relationships with key insurers that understand the industry in which you operate. Its business model ensures that those within Lockton who understand your business best act as your advocates in the insurance market to achieve innovative solutions to issues.
Lockton Companies International
Contact: Chris Brown
Tel: 020 7933 2686
Email: puevf.oebja@hxybpxgba.pbz
Website: http://www.lockton.com
Fresh produce - Sponsor: Solarsoft
Solarsoft supplies Solarsoft PMS (formerly Tropos), the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system which many manufacturers and suppliers of food and drink products rely on to help them cut costs, meet delivery times and respond to the demands of major retailers.
Solarsoft PMS is highly regarded in the industry as a system designed to support the way food production is managed, from order to delivery. Processes, recipe and customer demand drive manufacturing planning and ingredient supplies. Solarsoft PMS caters for the tight timescales that food manufacturers have to work to. Production planning works to the hour and minute, linking lines, rate-based manufacturing and ingredient supplies to maximise efficiency, yet enabling last-minute changes to maximise output and meet delivery requirements.
Quality control is fully integrated in Solarsoft PMS with quality specifications, tests, results, processes, batch control and ingredient supplies recorded in a fully integrated, end-to-end traceability system that meets the stringent requirements of legislation and the audit requirements of the major retailers.
Solarsoft has been supplying and supporting industry systems for over 20 years, to customers including Uniq, Morrison Bowmore, Kettle Produce, George Adams, Gala Coffee & Tea, James T Blakeman and many more.
Solarsoft has Global reach including offices in Canada, the US, Europe, and the Far East.
Solarsoft
Contact: Lynne Hughes
Tel: 01256 685200
Fax: 01256 685201
Email: ylaar.uhturf@ffv-jbeyq.pbz
Website: http://www.ssi-world.com
Meat & Poultry - sponsor: Air Products
Air Products provides the global food processing and packing industry with atmospheric gases, process and speciality gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates.
In 1965, the company helped to pioneer the use of liquid nitrogen for use in ultra-fast food freezing. Since then, it has been helping food industry customers use the latest gas-based technologies in all kinds of applications - from tunnel, batch and immersion freezing to modified atmosphere packaging and waste water treatment.
Air Products has developed many of its greatest product innovations to solve the problems that its customers have been encountering.
Whether your cooling, chilling, freezing or packing applications include bakery goods, fruit, vegetables, poultry, meat, ready meals or anything in-between, Air Products' Freshline solutions offer you high-purity gases and innovative equipment, international supply capability, and - most importantly - unmatched industry experience and technical support services to help your company succeed - wherever you are in the world.
Air Products works closely with its customers to select the optimal supply solution for its food applications: single cylinders, on-site gas generation systems, bulk and microbulk.
Air Products
Tel: 0800 389 0202
Fax: 01932 258 502
Email: ncohyxhx@nvecebqhpgf.pbz
Website: http://www.airproducts.com/food
Seafood - Sponsor: Foodex Meatex
Foodex Meatex is the only exhibition in the UK that is dedicated to food production, processing and packaging, food safety and hygiene, ingredients, consumables, refrigeration, IT, logistics, traceability, advisory services, research and academic institutions.
Foodex Meatex 2010 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham from March 21-24 2010, creating a unique business environment for exhibitors and visitors. Over 300 companies will be exhibiting an enormous range of new and innovative products and services that have been designed to make your business run more smoothly.
Foodex Meatex will once again be co-located with Food & Drink Expo, Baking Industry Exhibition, Convenience Retailing Show and IFFE, creating a complete supply chain event covering every aspect of food and drink manufacture.
Daren-Rose Neale, show manager with William Reed Business Media, said: "One of the growing areas for Foodex Meatex is seafood with many visitors from food retailing, processing and brands expressing an interest in fish and fish products. It is increasingly being recognised as a healthy food option, which is a trend that is reflected across both Foodex Meatex and its sister shows."
Foodex Meatex
Contact: Daren Rose-Neale
Tel: 01293 867626
Email: szznexrgvat@jvyyvnz-errq.pb.hx
Website: http://www.foodexmeatex.co.uk
LAST YEAR'S WINNERS
Food Manufacture Company of the Year 2007:
Arla Foods UK
Ambient and general groceries:
Manchester Rusk Company
Apprenticeships:
Craig Riches, Banham Poultry
Bakery:
Bells of Lazonby
Chilled ready meals and prepared foods:
Pasta King UK
Dairy:
Arla Foods UK
Diversity in Recruitment:
Fosters Bakery
Fresh Produce:
Stubbins
Marketing Frozen Foods:
Green Gourmet
Meat and Poultry:
Esca
Food Solutions Productivity Through Skills:
International Cuisine
Seafood:
Lossie Seafood
Small Company of the Year:
Pasta King UK
The Judges' Special Award:
Yeo Valley Organic
THE JUDGING PANELS
FOOD MANUFACTURE EXCELLENCE AWARDS JUDGES
Paul Wilkinson: (Chairman of judges)
Chairman of Big Bear, Produce World and Improve
JUDGES' PANEL
Steve Adams: general manager - North London Operations, Coca-Cola Enterprises
Jonathon Bayne: Technical development controller, Musgrave Retail Partners GB
Mark Colvin: Lean Manufacturing Consultant, Leanpal
Steve Drury: Business development specialist, Food & Cryogenic Applications, Air Products
Jean Feord: Consultant
Andrew Gale: Technical manager, Tesco Rick Pendrous: Editor, Food Manufacture Alan Speight: Food consultant
Andy Spooner: Director, Suiko WCS
Kevin Swoffer: KPS Resources
Andy Underwood: Commercial director, The Authentic Food Company
FOOD MANUFACTURE SKILLS EXCELLENCE AWARDS JUDGES
Paul Chapman: Improve
Rick Pendrous: Editor, Food Manufacture Derek Williams: Improve
Personality of the Year - Sponsor: Barclays Commercial Bank
Barclays Commercial Bank has specialists in over 50 industry sectors. It has a team of experts dedicated to the manufacturing sector, including relationship directors and relationship managers, each one with an average of 20 years' financial experience.
These sector specialists actively work with their customers; are responsible for their client relationships nationwide and are keen to ensure the manufacturing sector prospers in the global market.
This novel industry-focused proposition allows the relationship directors and managers to build up an in-depth understanding of the day-to-day challenges, alongside the longer-term opportunities facing businesses in the manufacturing sector. They invest time in developing in-depth relationships giving them detailed knowledge of their client's businesses and financial needs. This means they can provide bespoke and tailored banking solutions, such as debt capital market products, leveraged finance, international banking, investment management and asset finance.
By specialising in industry sectors, Barclays Commercial Bank provides the expertise and industry networks to move businesses forward and make the right connections.
Barclays Commercial Bank
Contact: John Laud, head of food, drink and packaging, Tel: 07775 543364
Email: wbua.ynhq@onepynlf.pbz
Website: http://www.barclays.co.uk/business
Diversity in Recruitment - Sponsor: Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus shares the government's aim of tackling poverty, reducing worklessness and promoting growth and opportunity.
Working with a range of partners, it promotes work as the best form of welfare, helping unemployed people compete effectively for work, while providing help and support for those without work.
Jobcentre Plus encourages employers to open up opportunities to jobless people, helps them fill their vacancies quickly and address the key skill needs in different parts of the country and sectors of the economy.
Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) are key to achieving this. They are based on a simple 'deal' between Jobcentre Plus and employers: the government gets people ready for work and employers with vacancies give them a fair shot at the job.
Over 1,000 employers across a wide range of sectors, including food manufacturers, have committed to LEPs. Jobcentre Plus is working closely with them to match the right candidate to the vacancy. To find out more about how LEPs can help solve your recruitment needs contact Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus
Tel: 0845 600 8192
Email: yrc.rad@wbopragercyhf.tfv.tbi.hx
Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/up
Productivity Through Skills - Sponsor: Improve
Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, is dedicated to addressing the skills needs of the industry and helping employers to achieve world-class productivity.
To help us achieve this we have delivered three core initiatives:
1. Sector Skills Agreement: This action plan sets out how industry members can work together to develop key skills. It is a working document that will continually be updated. Improve is dedicated to gathering and analysing Labour Market Intelligence (LMI), which provides the evidence base for skills development.
2. Qualifications Reform: Improve has made qualifications more relevant to employers' needs by implementing new frameworks for the National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ) in Food Manufacture. It has also developed frameworks for Apprenticeships in Food Manufacture across the UK. These flexible qualifications are made up of bite-sized units of learning, which allow learners to specialise in different sectors.
3. National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing: Improve has played a central role in launching the Academy, which operates via a network of dedicated training providers and offers high quality courses across England. The Academy also works with a wide range of different sized employers, to help them access the relevant and up-to-date training they need. Different arms of the Academy have been developed, so that the needs of the industry's various sectors can be met.
Improve's vision is to deliver 'world class skills for a world class sector'.
Improve
Tel: 0845 644 0448
Fax: 0845 644 0449
Email: vasb@vzcebirygq.pb.hx
Website: http://www.improveltd.co.uk
Apprenticeships - Sponsor: Improve
Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink, has worked in close consultation with employers and learning providers to develop and implement new learning frameworks for Apprenticeships in Food Manufacture across the UK.
The new framework for England and Wales was approved in November 2007, followed by the Scottish framework in December 2007 and the framework for Northern Ireland in March 2008.
These new integrated frameworks allow employees and learners from any food and drink sector to take part in one programme of learning.
An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme, which offers a combination of on-the-job training and off-the-job education.
By developing the new frameworks, Improve has made apprenticeships more relevant to employers' needs. Learners can specialise in a particular area by following a pathway, such as Bakery, Meat and Poultry or General Food and Drink Manufacturing. They develop an understanding of how theory and practical skills relate to each other. Level Two Apprenticeships provide a detailed understanding of the manufacturing process. At Level Three learners develop their technical and leadership skills.
Moving forward, Improve will continue to review and develop the apprenticeship frameworks and engage with both employers and learning providers.
To find out more about how apprenticeships can benefit your business, visit http://www.improveltd.co.uk
Improve
Tel: 0845 644 0448
Fax: 0845 644 0449
Email: vasb@vzcebirygq.pb.hx
Website: http://www.improveltd.co.uk
