FPC Freshawards 2014 Winners magazine

Winners Brochure

2014

Intercontinental London Park Lane

Awards Brochure - 5 June 2014

Florette Lifetime Achievement 03

It’sFresh! Fresh Produce Business of the Year 05

Individual Excellence Awards

NSA Food & Drink Young Person of the Year 06

NSA Food & Drink Manager of the Year 08

Supply Chain Excellence Awards

FPC Wholesale Supplier of the Year 11

FPC Floral Supplier of the Year 12

FPC Foodservice Supplier of the Year 13

FPC Supermarket Supplier of the Year 14

Retail Excellence Awards

QV Independent Retailer of the Year 17

QV Convenience Retailer of the Year 18

QV Multiple Retailer of the Year 19

Zyon UK Floral Retailer of the Year 21

Business Excellence Awards

Prophet Marketing Campaign of the Year 22

Morrisons CSR Excellence 26

FPC Innovation of the Year 28

Freeths Best Place to Work 32

London Produce Show Best Booth at the London Produce Show 35

Contents

Awards Brochure - 5 June 2014 01

Jim RogersPresident of FPC

Managing Director of Fesa (UK)www.fesa.co.uk

Simon MartinVice President of FPC

Sales Director of QV Foodswww.qvfoods.com

Michael VelascoChairman of Rodantowww.rodanto.co.uk

Veryan BlissCommercial & Technical Director

of Suncropwww.suncrop.co.uk

Richard ThompsonDirector of

Gilbert Thompson (Leeds)www.gtproduce.co.uk

Kathy HammondFreelance Industry Journalistwww.freshproduce.org.uk

Nigel JenneyCEO of FPC

Chairman of the Judging Panel www.freshproduce.org.uk

Fresh Awards Judging Panel

Fresh Produce Consortium The voice of your industry

www.freshproduce.org.uk

Fresh Produce Consortium Minerva House, Minerva Business Park,

Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6FTTel: 01733 237117

[email protected]

Florette Lifetime Achievement

WinnerChris Mack Fresca Group


SPONSORED BY

For many people, fresh produce runs in the genes. That’s certainly true for Chris Mack.

Upon graduation from Wye College, Chris worked as a top fruit grower. The pull of produce trading proved too strong to resist, and at 23 he entered the nocturnal world of wholesale with a job as a salesman at Mack Bristol. He became the fourth generation of his family to join the business.

From Bristol Chris moved to Paddock Wood. The company had been expanding, building an importing and packing business for the burgeoning supermarket retailers. As a salesman, then as imports manager he took on increasing responsibility.

In 1989 Chris became executive chairman when his father retired. Always a supporter of the wider industry, Chris was one of several key suspects who campaigned for and helped form the FPC. Indeed, he even served as its President.

In the last 25 years Chris has overseen staggering growth in the size of the business. Combined group sales are likely to exceed the £500 million mark for the first time in 2014. He has engineered this growth through acquisition and expansion, building the customer base, the product range and investing heavily. Never afraid of adventure and risk, he is now known for the ambitious development of glasshouse venture Thanet Earth, in Kent.

Chris remains fully involved as executive chairman at Fresca Group. He’s committed to the business, to its growers, its customers and to its people. Universally known in the industry, Chris Mack is a popular winner of this award.

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FLO041_FPC Fresh Awards_210x210.indd 1 20/05/2014 14:29

It’sFresh! Fresh Produce Business of the Year


WinnerAC Goatham & Son

Trading since 1947, AC Goatham & Son had a primary goal in 2013 and that was to enter into a direct supply contract with Sainsbury’s. That aim, so important to the company because it believes only through partnership can a sustainable supply chain succeed, has been achieved in style.

The company was identified as best-placed to support Sainsbury’s intention to double its supply of UK top-fruit by 2020 and it is making this possible with its ambitious orchard investment programme. More than 230ha have been planted since 2006 and all varieties selected according to Sainsbury’s requirements seeing AC Goatham & Son meet 54% of the retailer’s demand for UK apples and pears. Its stated 20-year strategic aim is to supply 100% of that demand.

In just seven years the company has spent £30 million throughout its business from staff training to storage and packing to shared research and development. This shared research means that not only do AC Goatham & Sons, Sainsbury’s and its shoppers benefit, but the wider sector also reaps the rewards from expanding knowledge-transfer on projects such as its work with East Malling Research.

Education is not just a concept AC Goatham pays lip-service to, but a key focus for the company so it keeps its

Gore Farm site open year round to the public. Its aim is to establish an educational hub so all sections of the community can learn about the biology of fruit production. The operation which also has a farm shop on site, welcomed 125,000 visitors last year while still running trials to explore new crop management techniques. The company’s vision is now for 250,000 people to make their way to the farm by 2035.

What the judges said: AC Goatham & Sons is committed to sharing the benefits from its trading relationships as it spreads its knowledge and resources. This has been recognised by Sainsbury’s, which named it Produce Supplier of the Year in 2013 and now it is recognised by the wider fresh produce industry.

SPONSORED BY

[email protected] or on +44 (0) 1234 889 130itsfresh.com

R E D U C E D W A S T E I N C R E A S E D S A L E S L O N G E R P R O D U C T L I F E F E W E R C O M P L A I N T S

ExtEndingthE quality of frEsh producE

Congratulations to all tonight’s finalists

fresh produce Business of the year

proud sponsors of:

fresh-2014.indd 1 20/05/2014 13:44

Winner Victoria Mason Buyer The Waitrose Garden

Victoria has been at the heart of one of the biggest recent retail success stories in the UK. Starting from scratch, she has headed the implementation of Waitrose Garden in 180 branches and it has already achieved a market share growth YTD of 4.4% to 9.2%.

Known as ‘Duracell’ to her colleagues, Victoria’s tireless and unrelenting pursuit of opportunity and bringing something new to market, and her success in achieving that, is in no small part due to her understanding of the needs of branch managers, built during time working at store level, and the infectious enthusiasm she displays in everything she does.

NSA Food & Drink Young Person of the Year

06 Individual Excellence

Judges’ comment:

Bright, driven and with flair and focus, Victoria

took on an enormous challenge and pushed the project forward with her tenacity and infectious

enthusiasm..

Finalist Toby & Oliver Bartlett Alan Bartlett & Sons

At just 23, twins Toby and Oliver Bartlett are already key players in their father’s root-crop business. Toby successfully works directly with the business’s main customers, while Oliver works on the farming side of the operation, alongside farm manager Neil Coatsworth, looking after all aspects of production on 3,300 acres, over two sites.

Finalist Richard Killian Thanet Earth / Hadlow College

Richard joined Thanet Earth in 2013, as a Hadlow College student inducted into the company’s Disovery Fellowship. His committed work contributed to Thanet Earth achieving NPD targets, and justified the expansion of its pepper research project into 2014. Richard has now secured full-time employment with the company upon his graduation and his new varieties are being trialled in a commercial setting.

Finalist Carolyn Coxe Produce World Burgess Farms

Carolyn has developed a crop production programme led by sales forecasts, which covers 5,000 acres and encompasses 4 different growing periods and 14 different crops for 6 primary customers. Her programme has made a huge and immediate impact, and enabled the company to understand better its growing costs in order to enable accurate benchmarking.

Finalist Andrew Staniland Stone Fruit and Banana Buyer Morrisons

Andrew has delivered an outstanding performance throughout the past 12 months. He has overseen the implementation of a first-to-market banana ripening facility and his drive and passion have been paramount in ensuring that Morrisons’ industry-leading stone-fruit market share doubles that of its estate’s share.


1. How long have you been in food production? All my life! My parents were tomato growers in Holland and I followed in their footsteps. I never really

wanted to do anything else.

2. Why did you decide to work with tomatoes?My parents’ infl uence was important, but I knew that it was a career that would also give me lots of

opportunity to travel. I’ve spent time working in Holland and Canada, learning different ways of growing food in greenhouses, and I now live in England, growing tomatoes.3. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?I love being able to make the plants grow the way I want them to grow by using the climate controls

the greenhouse systems offer me. But I also love seeing the tomatoes as they leave the greenhouse,

looking so beautiful and tasting really good. I know that if I’m getting lots of fruit on the plants and my

customers are happy with the quality of the fruit I give them then I must be doing my job right!4. Is there an aspect of your job you would like to change and why?If I could wave a magic wand then I’d like a bit more sunshine all the time. Light makes our plants grow

stronger and helps them produce more fruit. Sunny weather also makes people want to eat salads more,

so people eat more healthily and buy more of my tomatoes when the sun shines.

Gert va

n Straalen, tomato grower meet the team“ I’m in charge of the tomato production at Thanet Earth. I have to make sure we have strong, healthy plants and that we have enough people to tend the plants and pick the crop.

I work with the rest of the team to make sure our customers are happy and that we produce as many top quality, delicious tomatoes as we can.”

Fun facts!Gert’s tomato plants cover an area equivalent to a whopping full-size football pitches!

Gert’s greenhouses have lights in the roof. In the winter time he puts the lights on and the plants are fooled into thinking it’s sunshine. This means they produce fruit all year round.

26

©www. thanetear th. com

SPONSORED BY

08 Individual Excellence

NSA Food & Drink Manager of the Year

Winner James Judd Category Manager Fresh Produce Morrisons

James Judd is living proof of shop floor to top floor. In his 19-year Morrisons career, he has progressed from trainee potato buyer to category manager and managed every single area of produce and horticulture.

In the last year, James has been integral in the construction of the supermarket chain’s 2014-15 multi-channel produce strategy, which has redefined the produce offer at Morrisons, providing true value to customers and resulting in volume share growth.

Judges’ comment:

To be respected by your suppliers and peers in this

tough retailing environment is an achievement in itself – to do so while also increasing market share is a major endorsement of James’s

considerable skills. Awards Brochure - 5 June 2014 09

Finalist Andrew Darling North Bank Growers

Andrew’s customer-focused approach has bonded and developed his team at the Tees Valley site and had a positive impact on the performance of North Bank Growers and how it is perceived by staff, customers and the community. The site, which has traditionally employed a high percentage of agency staff, now has a waiting list of labour in the local area.

Finalist Jamie Tointon Factory Manager Produce World Group

Jamie has fostered an environment in which his team can generate ideas and have the confidence to put them into action. The team of 89 is continually encouraged to get involved with improvement initiatives and provided with the level of support they require to progress as individuals.

Finalist Rik Connor Waitrose Business Unit Manager for Fruition

During the 8 years that Rik has held this role at Fruition, the company has expanded its role as lead supplier of top fruit to Waitrose. His dynamism, innovation and analytical skills have driven the relationship forward – in the last year alone, sales value and volume have improved across the top-fruit category at Waitrose.

SPONSORED BY

Awards Brochure - 5 June 2014 11Supply Chain Excellence

FPC Wholesale Supplier of the Year

Winner Nationwide Produce Plc

Having started life from founder Bernard O’Malley’s Southport home in 1975, Nationwide Produce has become a truly international company with operations in Spain and Northern Ireland, as well as several sites in England.

The grower group now has 23 dedicated members and produces 37,000 tonnes of root crops for the wholesale, foodservice, catering and export markets.

The firm’s focus is on adding value into the supply chain. It has strong brand imaging and robust whole-crop marketing supported by IT and technical functions as well as an impressive credit rating; all important elements in supplying the wholesale trade.

Finalist Mack Southampton

In a three-year phased move, Mack Southampton has moved itself and its 78 employees out of its city-centre wholesale market location and into slick new premises in Nursling. In the process, it has significantly expanded its capability and created a purpose-equipped fresh-produce wholesale destination – and as a result gained an additional 10-15% of business in the last year.

Finalist Pacific Produce

In a short space of time, grower-owned Pacific Produce has built close relationships with around

100 wholesale clients, the length and breadth of Great Britain. Its popular Gold Cup brand has become a familiar sight in wholesale markets and in the last year, butternut squash, sweet potato, lemons and limes have been added to the mix.

Judges’ comment:

A great family business with the ability to adapt

and change while maintaining its

traditions.

SPONSORED BY

in partnership with

We are proud to sponsor the

Young Person of the Year Award&

Manager of the Year Award

at the

FPC Fresh Awards 2014

FPC Floral Supplier of the Year

Winner GT Flowers

GT Flowers, which has traded successfully in Leeds for 25 years, has experienced a rapid growth in its business since purchasing ultra-modern premises in Sheffield in 2011. It is now embarking on a long-term expansion plan with strategic sites being identified to optimise customer service.

Part of 4th generation family business, the Gilbert Thompson Group, GT Flowers’ expansion plan has both geographic and online targets. The success of its Sheffield venture is bringing forward plans for additional sites and the launch of a new online trading platform will give its growing customer base instant access to a global flower offer, delivered direct to their premises.

Finalist Zyon UK

In a squeezed marketplace, Zyon has proved that it is still possible for a smaller sized firm to grow and compete with a clear and targeted strategy. By developing its business on a sustainable platform and widening its customer network and product portfolio, the company has built on its core strengths to register record numbers in the last 12 months.

Finalist Rowe Farming

Rob Stacey and his team supply 120 million stems of daffodils to M&S each year. Their customer has recognised the consistently high level of performance internally and outwardly praised Rowe Farming for proving that supply, quality and staff welfare can all be equally important when supplying a UK retailer.

Judges’ comment:

Sound strategic planning has allowed the impressive GT Flowers to quicken the pace of its ambitious expansion

programme.12 Supply Chain Excellence

FPC Foodservice Supplier of the Year

Winner Mack Southampton

Having operated out of Southampton’s traditional wholesale market site since 1936, Mack decided 3 years ago that the time was right to move.

A seamless service has been maintained as Mack Southampton moved its fruit, veg and flower operations to up-to-the-minute premises in nearby Nursling, with flexible cold-storage capacity, comfortable office space and ample room for distribution vehicles.

Recognising that finding the balance between quality and affordability, provenance and service is key to success in the foodservice and catering supply sector, Mack has invested heavily in its new site and been rewarded with significant growth throughout the decamping process.


Finalist QV Foods

QV Foods is one of the largest fresh produce suppliers to the Brakes Group, not only of fresh and prepared potatoes, but also in the arena of fresh, prepared vegetables. Brakes and QV have shown that by working together, they can grow in a way that will benefit both parties for years to come.

Finalist GT Produce

Serving the foodservice trade across the north of England, GT Produce in Leeds increased its turnover by 9% in 2013, a record year for the firm. Closer relationships forged with a growing band of English grower-suppliers and a loyal customer base will benefit from the placement of foodservice at the heart of GT’s newly implemented 10-year strategy.

Judges’ comment:

Mack has adapted to changing market

conditions to transform the focus and direction of the company in a very

short space of time.

Every member of staff was supportive and helpful. It was exhausting at times but everyone appreciates our great new facilities.

SPONSORED BY

SPONSORED BY

FPC Supermarket Supplier of the Year

WinnerAC Goatham & Son

AC Goatham’s willingness to integrate its business with that of Sainsbury’s and invest in orchards according to its retail partner’s requirements is a show of courage.

Following many years of a more distant and traditional relationship with consumers and the supermarket, AC Goatham & Son reached the point where direct supply was more than a possibility.

In fact it has become the most obvious route to a sustainable food stream to the benefit of growers, the environment and the local community.

14 Supply Chain Excellence

Judges’ comment:

AC Goatham & Son has made a brave move with impressive focus on values, dedication and in-depth knowledge of

the marketplace.

4

OUR VISION

Further on in our review we look at

these themes in turn and explain why

they have been chosen and what

our specific visions are. This is not a

detailed strategic plan it is a strategic

vision that will drive our strategic plan

and culminate in a detailed 20 Year

Strategic Plan. We have already, as

part of this review, identified some

high level KPI’s we wish to achieve by

2035. These are:-

1. Double our Upstream Production

area and associated downstream

infrastructure

2. Double the influence we have on

employment levels, this is currently

estimated at 1,200 full time

equivalents

3. Double the number of visitors to

Gore Farm to promote education

and invest £2million here over the

next 20 years

4. Halve our effective carbon and

hydro footprint ratio

5. Commit to an equalisation of

Return on Capital amongst

‘our Partners’ if ours exceeds a

benchmark

6. Formalise more of our trading

relationships

7. Develop global brands with

‘our Partners’ that will provide a

competitive advantage

8. Deliver Year Round supply to ‘our

Partners’, guaranteeing them

quality and provenance.

9. Develop export markets using

branded products

10. To supply 100% @ Sainsbury’s

Investment

SustainabilityPartnership

People Skills & Education

CompetitivenessGreat Value

Research & Innovation

In our most recent review we identified five simple

strategic themes that will drive our strategy for the

next 20 years. The engines for these are investment

both financial and non financial.

9

INNOVATION

There is no doubt that research and development is key to the future if we are to have a sustainable and environmentally responsible food stream.

We will continue to engage in all forms of R&D at all levels.

Notably we have been lucky enough to receive R&D grant funding from Sainsbury’s.

We are delighted that Sainsbury’s financially supported our need for research on storage and pear pollination. We see this reflects our common goals.

We have already stepped up to the mark having hosted BBSRC projects and by committing Gore Farm as essentially one big trial plot. We can of course go further. With you ‘our Partners’ we will formulate a fully costed R&D strategy and make a formal financial commitment to this.

We will also aim to engage at the highest level with other bodies undertaking R&D to help them take the sector forward.

I believe in innovation and that the way you get innovation is you fund research and you learn the basic facts.

Bill Gates

Finalist Natures Way Foods

Morrisons believes the relationship it has with prepared-produce supplier Natures Way Foods has brought the supplier-customer relationship into a new era. A one-team approach has delivered consistent growth to both prepared salads and prepared fruit as Natures Way Foods demonstrates its understanding of the changing profile of Morrisons’ customers.

Finalist Thanet Earth

Thanet Earth gives its retail customers a positive story about sustainable, high-tech, high-quality UK salad production. Having a supplier to be proud of has had knock-on benefits for the image of the fresh-produce sector as a whole as the company aims to set standards for others to aspire to.

Finalist Fruition

The 25-year working relationship between Fruition and Waitrose shows dedication and loyalty in the supply of English top fruit and stone fruit. Innovation, high-level account management and category analysis are delivered through a business unit team that has grown Waitrose’s market share and provided outstanding levels of service.

Finalist Produce World Group

An improved financial position has provided Produce World Group with a platform to develop a five-year plan for growth across its business. It has reorganised to give recognition to its role as a grower and its innovative approach to developing new commercial varieties and bringing them to market.



wanted to do anything else.

2. Why did you decide to work with tomatoes?My parents’ infl uence was important, but I knew that it was a career that would also give me lots of

opportunity to travel. I’ve spent time working in Holland and Canada, learning different ways of growing food in greenhouses, and I now live in England, growing tomatoes.3. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?I love being able to make the plants grow the way I want them to grow by using the climate controls



customers are happy with the quality of the fruit I give them then I must be doing my job right!4. Is there an aspect of your job you would like to change and why?If I could wave a magic wand then I’d like a bit more sunshine all the time. Light makes our plants grow



Gert va





26


SPONSORED BY

QV Independent Retailer of the Year

Winner Rhubarb & Bramley

Only open since May 2013, Rhubarb & Bramley has set out to regenerate shopping in the village of Carshalton in Surrey.

Its reputation and customer base have grown and the greengrocer has branched out already to supply local schools and restaurants not just with fresh produce, but also with cut flowers and plants.

This expanding business’s passion is for local sourcing and its vision is to grow its own produce with a recent investment in a 10 acre nursery. A farm shop and second store in Surrey promise to build the Rhubarb & Bramley brand further in 2014.

Retail Excellence

Judges’ comment:

The dream for this inspiring new business

continues with the purchase of land to

expand further.

Finalist Abbey Parks

Abbey Parks has been farming

in Lincolnshire for 11 years and its

successful expansion has seen it enter

the independent retail trade with its own

farm delicatessen and shop, as well

as a bistro restaurant and wholesale

business on site. A “family-run family

of businesses”, Abbey Parks puts

Lincolnshire produce on the map. SPONSORED BY


Potatoes | Vegetables | Prepared

The QV Family are happy sponsors of the

Retailer of the Year Awards

QV Foods Fleet Estate Office, Manor Farm, Holbeach Hurn,

Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 8LR www.qvfoods.com

Contact [email protected]

210x210_QV_Advert.indd 3 21/05/2014 14:21

QV Convenience Retailer of the Year

18 Retail Excellence

Winner Tesco Express

The FPC asked shoppers to vote for the winner of the Convenience Retailer of the Year Award.

Polling was conducted by Google Consumer Surveys and consumers were asked:

“What’s your favourite local, small shop for fresh produce and why? (eg. value, choice, service, quality etc.)”

The vote was carried out online using a national adult internet population sample across one weekend in April 2014.

Tesco Express was voted the winner

Comments from respondents:

“My local Tesco Express is my first choice for local

fresh fruit and veg.” “Tesco Express, because they provide a friendly local service

and have a good choice.”“Tesco Express, for

reliable quality and good value too.”

Winner Asda

The FPC asked consumers to vote for the winner of the Multiple Retailer of the Year Award.

Polling was carried out by Google Consumer Surveys and consumers were asked:

“Which large supermarket offers you the best choice, quality, value and customer service for fresh produce and why?”

The vote was conducted over a three-day period in March 2014. Results reflect online responses from a sample national adult internet population.

Asda was voted the winner


“They have excellent selection and helpful staff.”

“Asda has friendly service.”

“They offer a good choice.”

QV Multiple Retailer of the Year


SPONSORED BYSPONSORED BY

Winner Tesco

The FPC asked consumers to vote for the winner of the Floral Retailer of the Year Award.

Google Consumer Surveys conducted polling and posed the question:

“Which supermarket provides the best quality, range, presentation, value and service for cut flowers and why?”

The vote was conducted over a three-day period in March 2014 in the run up to Mother’s Day.. Results are based on online responses from a sample national adult internet population.

Tesco was voted the winner

ZYON UK Floral Retailer of the Year

Retail Excellence


“Tesco has good quality and the best price.”

“Because they are value for money.”

“Tesco’s flowers are always fresh.”

SPONSORED BY

Zyon Group sponsors

Zyon Group would like to congratulate

the winner of Floral Multiple Retailer of

the Year award

Zyon NL Bloemenveiling Flora-Holland Postbus 578 2675 ZV Honselersdijk

Contact number 31(0)174210750 Fax number 31(0)174635127 www.zyon-group.nl/

Zyon UK Surfleet Road Pinchbeck, Spalding, England PE11 3XY

Contact number 01775 680068 Fax number 0845 280 5656 www.zyon-group.nl/

2014


PROPHET Marketing Campaign of the Year

Winner Aldi

Shopper research revealed that despite its rapidly increasing sales and market share, Aldi’s customers were still not aware enough of the value of its fresh fruit and vegetables.

To tackle this, to rejuvenate its performance in the category and to reposition the public perception of its produce offer, the chain stepped up its fully-integrated Super 6 marketing campaign with a swell of activity in-store, online and on TV.

Super 6 engaged consumers with information about Aldi’s offering and drove growth across the range. It is projected to grow the category to 7.5% market share in 2014, over-indexing significantly on its overall market share.

22 Business Excellence

Judges’ comment:

Using education to change perception of its

fresh offer, Aldi has given its market position

a major boost with Super 6.

Aldi accepts cash, Maestro, Debit MasterCard and Visa Debit cards in all stores. Visa and MasterCard credit cards accepted in Scottish and selected Welsh stores only. No cheques accepted in store. All offers

subject to availability. Prices correct at time of going to print. Excludes R.O.I. For details of your nearest store visit our website at www.aldi.co.uk or call our Customer Service Team on 0800 042 0800. Calls may be

recorded. Check pack for warranty details. The warranty may be available via the distributor or the manufacturer. All products purchased in an Aldi store are covered by a 60 day refund policy. Goods returned to a

store must be accompanied by proof of purchase/till receipt and in original packaging if not defective. The Aldi refund policy does not affect customer statutory rights. Leeks 500g, 98p per kg. Parsnips 750g, 65.3p

per kg. Cauliflower, 49p each. Chantenay Carrots 500g, 98p per kg. Cherry Tomatoes 300g, £1.63 per kg. Salad Potatoes 1kg, 49p per kg. Fruit and Veg offers available Thursday 10th April to Wednesday 23rd April 2014.

New offers start Thursday 24th April 2014. Prices are correct at time of going to print but, due to growing conditions, are subject to change. Please see in store for latest offers.

AldiUK @AldiUK Spend a little Live a lot

Super 6. At a super price.

Every two weeks, we give our customers six

of the best quality Fruit and Veg products at

the best possible price.

ALDI

6SuperAldi.

This week’s Fruit & Veg offers.

Leeks 500g

Parsnips 750g

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Chantenay Carrots 500g

Cherry Tomatoes 300g

Salad Potatoes 1kg

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Men’s and Ladies Technical Softshell Jacket

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Leeks 500g, £1.18 per kg. Parsnips 750g, 78.7p per kg. Cauliflower, 59p each. Chantenay Carrots 500g, £1.18 per kg. Cherry Tomatoes 300g, £1.97 per kg.

Salad Potatoes, 59p per kg. Fruit and Veg offers available Thursday 10th April to Wednesday 23rd April 2014. New offers start Thursday 24th April 2014.

Prices are correct at time of going to print but, due to growing conditions, are subject to change. Please see in store for latest offers.

See page 29 for Easter opening hours.

59peach/per pack

Parsnips 750g

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Finalist Waitrose

The Waitrose Story of The Brilliantly British Apple campaign was designed to increase sales of feature lines of British top fruit and create a ripple effect that lasted through the 2013-14 season. During the campaign, Waitrose held a 19.8% market share for English dessert apples and the campaign had a positive impact across the chain’s entire fruit category.

Finalist Puffin Produce

The success of Puffin Produce’s Blas y Tir brand for authentic Welsh produce clearly demonstrates the role of provenance in the fresh produce aisle and that through careful and efficient media planning with targeted consumer campaigns, significant growth can be achieved. Volume sales have more than doubled in the last 12 months.

Finalist Little Big Voice & MMUK

Focusing on quality, health, provenance and availability, Little Big Voice and MMUK’s imaginative Spanish citrus marketing campaign allied retailer support with effective use of new media channels, experiential and guerrilla marketing. Aiming at the full shopper spectrum, it reached more than 16 million consumers and achieved 6% like-for-like growth in a mature category.

Finalist Albert Bartlett

Bringing the Albert Bartlett brand messaging to the forefront was central to the firm’s marketing campaign for 2013-14. Focus on the key brand values and products has had immediate effect – prompted brand awareness rose to 54% and branded volume sales have shown significant growth in a market that was generally in decline.

Waitrose – The Story of The Brilliantly British Apple

• The advert can be viewed on the link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y44vwWNkVm4

• The film can be viewed on the link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxjImth667M

SPONSORED BY

Prophet: main sponsors of

17 May 2012

prophet

www.prophet.co.uk

Prophet: main sponsors of

Fresh Produce Software• Planning

• Trading

• Quality Assurance

• Logistics

• Inventory

• Accounting

Prophet SAOakmont Building, Somerset Links Office Park, De Beers Ave., Somerset West 7130, South Africa

Contact: +27 (21) 8529521 or email: [email protected]

Prophet plcUnit 1, Villiers Court, Meriden Business Park, Meriden, Warwickshire CV5 9RG, UK

Contact: +44 (0)1676 525565 or email: [email protected]

Prophet North AmericaProphet North America, 3434 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 155, Bakersfield, CA 93301, USA

Contact: +1 661 325 4454 or email: [email protected]

Prophet would like to wish the best of luck to all those nominated for Marketing Campaign of the Year Award 2012

Prophet sponsors Prophet would like to congratulate the winner of

Marketing Campaign of the Year Award 2014

prophet

Produce software, fit for purpose

Prophet SAOakmont Building, Somerset Links Office Park, De Beers Ave., Somerset West 7130, South Africa

Contact: +27 (21) 8529521 or email: [email protected]

Prophet plcUnit 1, Villiers Court, Meriden Business Park, Meriden, Warwickshire CV5 9RG, UK

Contact: +44 (0)1676 525585 or email: [email protected]

Prophet North AmericaProphet North America, 5300 Lennox Avenue, Ste 300, Bakersfield, California, 93309

Contact: +1 661 325 4454 or email: [email protected]

Proud sponsors of the CSR award

MM404378_988994 CSR Award Sheet_KO.indd 1 23/05/2014 09:30

Digitally signed by Martin Woolley DN: cn=Martin Woolley, o=Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, ou=Morrisons Studio, [email protected], c=GB Date: 2014.05.23 08:33:14 Z

Winner Albert Bartlett

Everyone at Albert Bartlett plays a role in its award-winning management of environmental issues. The company’s environmental management system (EMS) team comprises staff from all departments and tiers of the business.

The team devises optimum energy-efficient management systems to minimise its use of gas, electricity and water, and also takes good care of the long-term sustainability of its people and the wider industry.

Albert Bartlett’s holistic approach has been recognised not just by ISO 14001 accreditation, but also by the VIBES award for environmental management in a large business.


Judges’ comment:

Taking a holistic approach to putting

into practice its total commitment and passion

about environmental issues.

MORRISONS CSR Excellence


Finalist Thanet Earth

A new education website www.discoverthanetearth.com in February is a positive, publicly visible milestone in the Thanet earth CSR strategy. The site’s Discovery and Learning Zones have arisen through demand and extensive work with teachers and they are already a recommended online resource to bring curriculum learning to life for schoolchildren nationwide.

Finalist Branston

The first company in the food and agriculture sector to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, Branston’s long-term strategy is that low carbon = low cost and sustainable growth can only be achieved by considering environmental and financial implications. Its sites all hold ISO 14001 accreditation, a first for the potato industry.

Finalist Ethical Fruit Company

This year has been successful for new brand ‘The Ethical Food Company’, created to deliver a range of organic food that is grown in a better, sustainable and ethical way. Replacing Booths own-label organic range of fruit, the ‘ethical’ is used to reflect positively the underlying principles, while recognising the mixed messages surrounding ‘organic’ in today’s market.


Community Impact is one of the four pillars of Produce World’s 4Life strategy, which aims to increase the positive impact that the group has on the communities within which it operates. Last Christmas, Produce World supported homeless charity Crisis with 100% of its wish-list for produce, providing a crucial 30,000 meals for homeless people in London.

1. How long have you been in food production? All my life! My parents were tomato growers in Holland and I followed in their footsteps. I never really wanted to do anything else.

2. Why did you decide to work with tomatoes?My parents’ infl uence was important, but I knew that it was a career that would also give me lots of opportunity to travel. I’ve spent time working in Holland and Canada, learning different ways of growing food in greenhouses, and I now live in England, growing tomatoes.

3. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?I love being able to make the plants grow the way I want them to grow by using the climate controls the greenhouse systems offer me. But I also love seeing the tomatoes as they leave the greenhouse, looking so beautiful and tasting really good. I know that if I’m getting lots of fruit on the plants and my customers are happy with the quality of the fruit I give them then I must be doing my job right!

4. Is there an aspect of your job you would like to change and why?If I could wave a magic wand then I’d like a bit more sunshine all the time. Light makes our plants grow stronger and helps them produce more fruit. Sunny weather also makes people want to eat salads more, so people eat more healthily and buy more of my tomatoes when the sun shines.

Gert va





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SPONSORED BY


FPCInnovation of the Year

Judges’ comment:

This is a fantastic initiative to connect

students and commercial horticulture – long may it continue.

Winner Thanet Earth & Hadlow College

Thanet Earth believes its new Discovery Greenhouse and Fellowship, created in partnership with Hadlow College, is the first partnership of its kind between industry and education.

It is a research facility for production horticulture, taking a minimum of 50 new varieties of tomato each year for commercial trials, assessing the results and aiming to drive innovation through to market reality.

Students from Hadlow’s commercial horticulture degree course are invited each year to apply for a Discovery Fellowship, to run the facility on an eight-month placement – the latest student has already been offered a full-time post by Thanet Earth and his new varieties will soon be rolled out to retail shelves.

The Thanet Earth Discovery Fellowship

The opportunity:

• 1student,andan8monthpaidworkplacement• ManagingtheDiscoveryGreenhouseatHadlowCollegeonbehalfofThanetEarth• Workingtoassesstrialvarietiesoftomatoes• Trainingandmentoringfromspecialists• Adetailedinsightintocommercialhorticulture,complementingdegreecoursecontent

Rich

ard Killian, 2013 Fellowship student

ThepeopleatThanetEarthtakeakeeninterestinthehorticulturaltrainingavailabletoyoungpeoplewishingtoentertheindustryandarekeentoworkcloselywithcollegestohelpensurethatthecurriculumisrelevantandsupportedbyindustry.

ToconductearlyvarietytrialsonasuitablescalewithinoneoftheThanetEarthcommercialgreenhouseswouldbecomplexandwouldriskcompromisingtheday-to-dayactivities,soadedicatedseparategreenhouseforthisworkisideal.TolinkwiththefacilitiesatHadlowCollegeprovidedanattractivesolutionwithmultiplebenefitsforbothThanetEarthandHadlowCollege.

SecondyearBScHorticulturestudentsatHadlowwereinvitedtosubmittheirCVsandapplyfortheFellowshipposition.ThecoursetutorsandThanetEarthstaffhadcreatedadetailedplanfortrainingandforstudentsupporttoensuretheFellowshipstructurewouldcomplementtheteachingandprovideagenuineopportunity.Theselectedstudentfor2013wasRichardKillian,andsobeganRichard’strainingwithThanettomatogrower,GertvanStraalen.

Duringthe6monthgrowingperiod,RichardplantedtheDiscoverygreenhousewith55differentvarietiesoftomatoes–atotalof538plants.Hekeptdetailedrecordsofeachvariety’sperformanceandyield,andnotedanyparticulardifficultiesandsusceptibilitiesintheplants.Hehelpedhosthigh-profilevisitsfromretailersandseedcompanies,andmaderecommendationstotheteamaboutthemostcommercially-promisingopportunities.

RichardbloggedhisexperiencesforThanetEarth(copyattached)andwassupportedthroughoutbyRobertJames–TechnicalDirectoratThanetEarthMarketing.

Summarisinghisachievements,Richardexplained:

“ThisFellowshiphasbeenreallychallengingattimes,butIhavebeenabletouseittomakemydegreecoursemuchmoremeaningfulwithrealcommercialexposure.Ican’tthinkofanywhereI’drather workthanatThanetEarthafterthis.It’stheperfect springboardintomynewcareer.”

Aground-breakinglinkbetweenHadlowCollegeandThanetEarth

RichardKillian(centre)withRobertJames,TechnicalDirectoratThanetEarthMarketing(left)andSteveHatt,MarketingCoordinator(right).


Finalist Polymer Logistics

Recognised as a leading innovator in returnable solutions for the retail-ready packaging industry, Polymer Logistics has this year introduced its latest creation – the “marketplace” crate. The crate delivers all the same benefits as traditional plastic, but the wood-effect appearance provides a retail-display solution that befits fresh produce.

Finalist Tesco

Tesco launched Avozilla avocados in August 2013, to add a new dimension to its avocado offer – a fruit that was five times as heavy as a typical avocado, to be exact. The limited volume of fruit available did not stop Avozilla gaining huge exposure for the category and the health benefits of avocados, through social media in particular. Tesco’s avocado sales grew by 24% in the latest 52-week period.

Finalist Norman Collett

To maximise the utilisation of its growers’ award-winning Rubens apple crop, Norman Collett has created a Rubens Crisps brand and Rubens juice. Both are 100% natural products and with the volume of Rubens set to double in the coming season, the brands will provide a valuable outlet for fruit that might otherwise have gone to waste.

Finalist Fourayes

To deal with class II product, which previously was being disposed of at a cost to growers, Fourayes Farm approached one of its retail clients with the idea of producing Kentish strawberry jam for its fresh-cream cabinets. The product has been such a runaway success that it resulted in a big expansion of Fourayes’ business with Kentish and other British fruit growers.


wanted to do anything else. 2. Why did you decide to work with tomatoes?My parents’ infl uence was important, but I knew that it was a career that would also give me lots of

opportunity to travel. I’ve spent time working in Holland and Canada, learning different ways of

growing food in greenhouses, and I now live in England, growing tomatoes.

3. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?I love being able to make the plants grow the way I want them to grow by using the climate controls



customers are happy with the quality of the fruit I give them then I must be doing my job right!

4. Is there an aspect of your job you would like to change and why?

If I could wave a magic wand then I’d like a bit more sunshine all the time. Light makes our plants grow



Gert van

Straalen, tomato grower meet the team“ I’m in charge of the tomato production at Thanet Earth. I have to make sure we have strong, healthy plants and that we have enough people to tend the plants and pick the crop. I work with the rest of the team to make sure our customers are happy and that we produce as many top quality, delicious tomatoes as we can.”



26


SPONSORED BY

Specialist lawyers in the fresh food sector

As a business with ‘Best Company’ accreditation we are delighted to sponsor the Best Place to Work award.

With many years’ experience in assisting the UK’s food growers, processors and manufacturers, Freeth’s 11 offices are located in key UK food producing regions

meaning there is always someone local to you to assist with your legal needs.

National reach, local understanding

www.freeths.co.uk


home of this event since 1947

is delighted to announce

Jamaica

as Guest Nation

of the 69th FPC Annual Dinner

at the Savoy

Save the Date

14th Feb 2015

FREETHS Best Place to Work


Winner Worldwide Fruit

A complete change of company ethos has transformed Worldwide Fruit into an organisation with 33% staff turnover a decade ago to just 6% in operations last year.

A top-down control philosopy based on fear of making a mistake has been swept aside to be replaced by an inclusive coaching-based ethos where challenge and input is welcomed and expected from all.

Personal development plans are involving and empowering people while training hours have increased. At all levels, the diverse workforce now knows it’s opinion is valued increasing self-worth and improving motivation.

Judges’ comment:

Worldwide Fruit openly recognised change was needed and has been brave in demonstrably

taking the steps required to make dramatic progress

in raising employee satisfaction.

www.worldwidefruit.co.uk+44 (0)1775 717 000

passion to the core

Quality | Passion | Innovation | Together

At Worldwide Fruit, we’re known as much for our

integrity and passionate belief in fair, profitable

relationships for our growers and suppliers as we

are for the quality of our produce.

It’s this belief that is ingrained in our values, as

true today as they’ve always been



Rising positive engagement scores have gone hand in hand with improved financial health at Produce World, showing a clear correlation between employee contentment and business success. Achievement and special contributions by teams and individuals are recognised and celebrated by all staff at the Pride of Produce World Group Awards.

Finalist MMUK and MM Flowers

MMUK and MM Flowers have committed to the

development of all of their staff with the creation

of the MM Training Academy and Institute of

Leadership & Management approved-centre

status. The focus is on up-skilling its staff and

reaching out to the MM workforce of tomorrow

with its Youth Strategy.

Finalist Morrisons

Morrisons has strengthened its produce staff team with a structured development plan and working environment that encourages contribution and self-improvement. Clear objectives flowing from corporate goals are set for individuals who are fully supported by Morrisons Academy learning maps, as the department focuses on contentment at work and continual development of its people.

SPONSORED BY


The London Produce Show Best Booth (at the London Produce Show)

WinnerVoted for on the morning of 5th June

SPONSORED BY

PROUD SPONSORS OF

BEST BOOTH

www.londonproduceshow.co.uk

Congratulations to all our winners and finalists, with special thanks to our sponsors

2014

Main sponsors

award sponsors


Drinks Reception sponsor

Design & Printed by www.speed-net.co.uk

Documents

FPC Freshawards 2014 Winners magazine