fsm Spooners Magazine For
Happy 60th First ever issue of FSM (Spoonews)
Birthday FSM!
1994
As millions waited in anticipation for their numbers to come up in the first UK lottery, hundreds more waited eagerly for the very first edition of the Silver Spoon News. Yes, in 1994, the Silver Spoon News was launched with the aim to share knowledge, financial updates, and customer and company initiatives with everyone in every department. A lot has changed since then, not least of all the title which changed to ‘For Spooners Magazine’, but the objectives have remained the same. Celebrating the 60th issue is a great opportunity to review how successful we have been, and also
As the magazine was launched… • Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa • France seemed closer with the new Channel Tunnel • Brazil won the World Cup • Keanu Reeves took the bus in ‘Speed’ • Lisa Marie Presley married Michael Jackson • We all sang along to The Beastie Boys and Sheryl Crow
look to what the future can bring. A survey of the Directors found that many thought that FSM was achieving its objectives, but more could be done to explore the people side of the company. We already have a full ‘People Page’ every issue on page 7, but we would like to hear more from you, the reader, on what you would like to see. One suggestion is a series of ‘A day in the Life of…’ featuring people in different roles across the business – maybe you could be our first feature! Another suggestion is sharing more about how we source different products – there was great feedback from Louise Vickers’ article on the Illovo supply chain and the great benefits Fair Trade is having in Malawi and Zambia. What other products would you like to know about? Several of our products come a great distance and it would be interesting to follow their journey back to the UK (If someone is needed to go to Barbados to check how the cane is getting on, I’m available day and night…). That’s what the Directors have suggested – what about you? Do you think FSM is relevant to you – and if not, what would you like to see? After all, this is your magazine! Please e-mail or write to me and tell me your ideas and suggestions for future
articles. Who knows, maybe next issue, your suggestion will be front page news! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to FSM over the years and has made it such a success – we really couldn’t have done it without you. Please keep the articles coming, and here’s to the next 60 issues! Angelina Connolly, FSM Editor
Just a few FSM Highlights
Dec 1994 –
Silver Spoon News is launched
May 1995 – Silver Spoon sponsors the British Olympic Team June 1999 – Bardney ‘Treats’ itself to a new plant Dec 2003 –
Silver Spoon awarded the ‘little red tractor’
Sept 2004 – Silver Spoon celebrates its 10 year anniversary Jan 2006 –
Silver Spoon new logo launched
Sept 2008 – Happy 60th Issue FSM!
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS: ‘ ‘
Askeys & RoSPA A Greener Workplace
‘ Issue 60 Sept 2008
P2 P6
‘ ‘
Home Baking Market Boost People Page
P3 P7
‘ ‘
Kids & Snacks Brakes List Crusha
P4 P8
‘ Angelina Connolly, Editor - Ext. 22831 ‘ Email: angelina.connolly@thesilverspooncompany.co.uk
Askeys Presidential Hat-Trick at RoSPA Awards The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – RoSPA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a registered charity established more than 90 years ago that aims to campaign for change, influence opinion, contribute to debate, educate and inform - for the good of all. By providing information, advice, resources and training, RoSPA is actively involved in the promotion of safety and the prevention of accidents in all areas of life - at work, in the home, on the roads, in schools, at leisure and on (or near) water. The RoSPA Achievement Awards are non-competitive and are based on the entrant’s individual Occupational Health and Safety performance assessed against the judging criteria. Awards are made at Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit level, progressing to higher awards for sustained achievement: the Gold Medal (at least 5 consecutive Gold Awards), President’s Award (at least
10 consecutive Gold Awards) and the Order of Distinction (at least 15 consecutive Gold Awards). Entrants for an Achievement Award must provide evidence of a good health and safety management system by answering the Key Performance Questions and supporting the answers with a concise portfolio of relevant documents. Askeys has won the Presidents Award for 3 years running now, a great achievement for the site and a good recognition of the company’s continuing commitment to health and safety in the workplace. To collect the award, three of the employee consultation team - Marion Maples, Lily Latty, and Sabrina Dunn went to the award ceremony at the Birmingham NEC. After the ceremony and lunch the gang
'Sabrina Dunn, Lilieth Latty, and Marion Maples accept the President's award for the third year in a row'
went to visit the Safety Expo at the NEC to find out more about H&S in the workplace and to bring a load of samples back to Askeys. Big thanks to the guys for representing Askeys at the ceremony, and thanks to all on site for continuing to make Askeys a safe place to work. Sandra Erasmus, Secretary to Askeys
Sprinkles are The Crusha kittens are going large…. coming home! From September 2008, Sprinkles will be coming in-house and will be produced at Askeys. Since its launch two years ago, the ice cream topping has been produced by a contract packer, but it is easier for the supply chain to manage products if we produce them ourselves. It also can also end up being more profitable which is great news for the business. The move to Askeys gives us a fantastic opportunity to revamp the Sprinkles packaging and enables us to move to an attractive one-piece shrink sleeve. This will replace the four piece label and tamper evidence packaging on the current jar. In order to enable this move to happen, a small semi-automatic production line will be set up at Askeys. It is hoped that there will be opportunities for packing new products on this line in the future – so watch this space for further updates! Dave McDermott, Supply Manager - Projects
Building on the successful TV campaign last spring, the new Crusha advert will be showing in cinemas across the UK from October 2008 through to the summer next year. In keeping with our consumer target, the advert will feature in the
previews of family films, including the biggest film releases next year such as High School Musical 3, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, Madagascar 2, Ice Age 3, Hannah Montana Movie and more…. To celebrate the Crusha cinema advertising campaign, you will soon have the opportunity to win cinemas tickets. Look out for details on e-mail in the next few weeks or we’ll Crusha! Nadia Henrique-Murray, Manager Kids & Snacks
Marketing
Economic Slowdown set to boost the Home Baking Market While the nation sinks into the credit crunch, the home baking category prepares for a reversal in fortunes. The home baking market is worth £320 million, down £8 million compared to last year. However, the category could see a dramatic change over the next year as it is predicted that more people will try to save a few pounds on their shopping by switching to cooking from scratch. £6 million of the market decline is due to culinary nuts; peel and baking fruits have also seen decline as old recipes such as fruit cake are being put aside for contemporary cheat recipes, as demonstrated by celebrity cooks such as Nigella and Delia. Furthermore, baking is going back to school, potentially creating a new generation of enthusiastic cooks. Food technology will be part of the curriculum from 2011 and this will start the ball rolling to increase interest in family baking. Allinson Flour believes in getting back to baking and has seen growth in Premium White and Wholemeal Bread Flour as consumers are increasingly choosing to bake rather than buy bread. Many are seeking the
Meet the New FSM Team! I am pleased to announce that we have several new members on the FSM team. Amy Caldwell joined Silver Spoon in May ‘08 and works on the Kids & Snacks marketing team. She has already demonstrated an eye for detail - and in the the few months she has been here, has managed to read all of the back issues in order to come up with the issue highlights on page one! Katie Boczko, HR Advisor Peterborough, is also joining the team to help with proof-reading and provide general support. As happy as we are with the current team, we are always looking for more support! Would you be able to help with proof reading or drumming up articles from your colleagues? We would like people on the team from across all areas of the business to get involved – e-mail and phone calls
mean you don’t have to be based in Peterborough to work on FSM. If you would like to get involved, please either e-mail me at: Angelina.connolly@thesilver spooncompany.co.uk or call me on 01733 422 831. I would also like to hear your views on FSM and what you would like to see in future issues. You’ve heard what the Directors thought on page one, now it’s your turn! What articles would you like to see? We would love to hear your feedback because it’s your magazine, so please get in touch – your ideas will help FSM achieve its next 60 issues! Angelina Connolly, FSM Editor
comfort and security of cooking at home because, according to a Mintel report published in April, ‘there appears to be a nostalgia and sentiment associated with home baking’. Billington’s has also noticed a trade
up to luxury products and report a strong performance from golden caster sugar and icing sugar. So if you are feeling the pinch when you shop at the supermarkets, remember it is cheaper to cook and bake from scratch! Roxanne Amir-Mohammadi, Marketing Assistant
Katie Boczko, Angelina Connolly and Amy Caldwell
Kids & Snacks – Category Initiatives The Kids & Snacks teams have had a very busy year so far across all of its products. From Crusha’s re-launch and advertising, a ‘mountainous’ performance by Treat on Pancake day, and Askeys rising to the challenges of our Great British Summer! We have been working hard for the past 12 months to strengthen our relationships with retailers in order to approach them from a collaborative perspective that helps them to improve their offer to consumers, and that can really help to drive sales. Here’s a brief overview of what the teams at Kids & Snacks have been working on recently in the Milkshake and Ice Cream Cones & Toppings categories.
We have been working really hard to develop a closer strategic relationship with retailers. As a result, Tesco asked us to come and lead their thinking in the Desserts area, effectively driving their category plans. This fitted in with Tesco’s customer journey of ‘to make, to go, to share’. We highlighted the importance of a good ice cream cones and toppings sauces range, and Askeys is uniquely positioned as we are the only brand to provide everything – cones, fans, and toppings sauces! Our recommen-
dations to Tesco came into effect in store in June. The buyer was impressed by what we had to say, and also by the quality of our products and production facilities. Thanks to this effort, we saw significant gains on both distribution and shelf space on current lines such as cones and Treat which will help drive sales within Tesco. We also won key contracts to supply Tesco with their Own Label Waffle Cones and their Value Strawberry and Chocolate lines, which will go to further strengthen our key relationship with the UK’s leading supermarket.
in distribution and shelf-space, again thanks to our wide product spectrum. This review took place in June and should really help to build a solid platform for sales, not only this Summer, but in the coming year too!
The product range proposed to Asda
Our products helped create an excellent Tesco dessert range
Asda also invited us to make a similar recommendation to them in their Desserts range after they were so impressed with the Home-Baking team’s recommendations. We were able to make general suggestions on product sub-groups to help maximise Asda’s sales by offering the consumer’s ideal range. This also led to key gains for Askeys
Product visibility is a key driver in sales during the summer months, and for a few years we have been providing shippers for the Co-op. These provide an ‘ice cream factory’ experience, whereby a shopper can find their Askeys cones, wafers and Treat, in one place. This is especially important in a convenience retailer as big as the Co-op, where increased visibility can drive impulse sales. This year we were able to increase the number of stores featuring this shipper to 1000, and we also gained a key listing in the form of sprinkles - originally destined for 300 stores, we were able to increase this distribution to1300 stores! In other retailers we are continuing to develop our relationships and drive sales through well-implemented promotions.
Tesco decided to do a Longlife Milk range review for mid-August, and, after previous success with Crusha, Tesco asked us to make category recommendations for the whole of the Longlife Milk fixture! We had access to their category plans and merchandising teams to help make our suggestions. Tesco’s new range includes significant distribution gains in Crusha No Added Sugar variants and also enables the early launch of Crusha Ready To Drink (For more, read the following article!). As well as Crusha RTD, we also agreed Strawberry Crusha StrawsYouCanEat. This achievement is really important because it strengthens the brand and
drives sales, and our relationship with Tesco grows increasingly stronger. Asda also wanted to talk to us about ways to maximise sales and improve the presence of Crusha in their stores. We talked to them about the successful Crusha sales and TV campaign and the growth overall of the brand. We showed how we planned to develop the brand through NPD, and were able to make recommendations to the buyer and gain extra space for the listing of both Crusha StrawsYouCanEat and Crusha RTD lines! In the Co-op, Crusha is being refreshed by introducing StrawsYouCanEat in July, whilst in other retailers we are continuing to improve our relationships with buying teams, presenting NPD to gain extra listings, and managing promotions to get the most out of a really exciting and progressing brand! Damien Philip, National Account Manager
Introducing Crusha milkshake…
Crusha Ready to Drink milkshake cartons will be launched into multiple retailers this autumn and are designed to appeal to kids who want the great taste of Crusha in an instant!
Banana Martin
is a real cat who knows what he likes and after a session at the punch bag there's nothing tastier than a slurp of Crusha milkshake.
The foodservice sector is also an opportunity with family restaurants and wholesalers. Strawberry Dave, along with his friends Banana Martin and Chocolate Clive, have been having great fun on the back of the new Crusha ready to drink milkshake packs. The drinks contain no artificial flavourings, colours or preservatives and are low in fat, rich in calcium and made using British milk. The cartons come with a telescopic straw and can also be recycled. Banana Martin will be launched as
Chocolate Clive
is everyone's favourite flexible feline. He knows a gym-tastic flavour when he tastes it and he goes for Crusha milkshake after every workout.
a limited edition flavour who will be rotated into different flavours throughout the year to keep the range up-to-date and provide new interest. The next flavour will be Raspberry. We are inviting you to suggest your own name for the Raspberry flavourplease send your ideas to beth.baker@thesilverspooncompany.co.uk Beth Baker, Brand Controller – Projects Kids and Snacking Team
Strawberry Dave loves to drink lipsmackingly delicious Crusha milkshake after pumping iron at his local gym. He's a tough little kitty who makes milk shake with a single glance.
Newark & Bardney A Greener Workplace Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather. Industry in the U.K produces over 600 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year which makes it the highest contributor to our nation’s carbon footprint. Research has consistently shown that people are interested in protecting the environment with a T.U.C survey showing that 94% said they would support environmental measures such as recycling, reducing waste and saving electricity.
The Newark and Bardney Sites have always been keen to take up new ideas and initiatives to achieve a Greener Workplace. So when a new bonus scheme was proposed aimed at reducing waste and efficiencies within the workplace, both sites were keen to embrace this challenge. Steve Hudson (Trade Union Representative for Newark) recently attended a Training Course focusing on initiatives for promoting a greener workplace, and he is at the forefront of the Carbon Reduction Team driving this forward at Newark. The Team for Newark and Bardney also includes Paul Proctor, Nigel White, Tony Rogerson, Damon Quinn, Ian Clutterbuck and Nick Eakins. Some of the initiatives already in place and also being introduced at Newark and Bardney include:
Recycling With the current price of landfill and landfill tax set to go through the roof it is important that we separate our waste as much as possible. This is a double winner as we get paid for the recyclable waste, and it saves money as it doesn’t go to landfill. Our Newark recycling compactor has two compartments, one for cardboard and one for clear plastics. We are currently awaiting a third which will compact printed paper – even more recycling! As we sell our recyclable waste,
price is important – and we’ve struck gold with a company paying us £120 per ton of clear plastics, 3 times what we were being paid before! We are also looking at recycling drinks cans, plastic cups and general office waste in an attempt to keep landfill to an absolute minimum.
Saving energy We have started a “turn it off” campaign with posters and stickers being put up in the offices, and also “turn off” procedures for shift managers. At the start and end of the shifts, the managers are going around the plant turning on the machines that will be running, and isolating those that won’t be - therefore saving on electricity. We have also installed energy saving lighting in the Fawema hall – this will pay for itself within four months due to the electricity saving, and we have plans to install these lights all around the plant in due course. Climate change is everyone’s business and we all need to do our bit to ensure that we leave the planet in as good a condition as we can for our children and grandchildren. It’s been really motivating to see the enthusiasm of everyone at Newark and Bardney. They have come up with some great ideas for the Carbon Reduction Team to take forward - and we’re all working together to reduce the carbon footprint at our Sites.
Steve Jones, Site Manager Bardney & Newark
the People Page Exam results at Allinson's Marija Kolesnikova has successfully completed her two year BTEC National Certificate in Industrial & Laboratory Science. She has achieved a National Certificate in Applied Science (Biology & Chemistry) and gained a Distinction in her qualification. Robin Partington has successfully completed a year’s course, 'nabim' Flour Milling, exam Module 1 Health, Hygiene & Safety and gained a Credit pass. Congratulations to both for their hard work.
Long Service
Awards
Wendel Mercury – 30 years Congratulations to Wendel for completing her long service of 30 years. Wendel started with Askeys in 1978 as a packer and has shown her commitment, as it is a role she does today. Wendel is a valued team member and can work throughout the production line. We are privileged to have such experience.
Ted Melo – 30 years Congratulations Ted for your 30 years service! Ted started with Askeys in 1978 as a machine operator, a role he does today. Ted has worked on many projects with the engineers over the years to help with the running of machinery. Ted is known as the wafer oven expert on site. He has assisted with the running
Central Office
Employee
and improvement work on the wafer oven and knows everything about wafers! We thank him for his hard work over the years.
John Perez – 30 years Well done to John for completing 30 years service with Askeys. John started as a machine operator back in 1978. John was involved with the initial installation of the waffle cone oven at Askeys 12 years ago. He was the first machine operator to use the machine and is always willing to help. He is a valued member of the team at Askeys.
Linda Saunders – 30 years Linda has had a variety of Jobs since starting with BS (packaging plant) from operating various machines to quality controller. In 1994 (ish) Linda Joined the admin team and manages various roles. "She's a Star".
Bowling Success Allinson’s successful bowling team (Richard Powter, Ian Law, Malcolm Phillips, Karl Phillips, and Nick Barnes), have won the Plate in the Businessmen Bowling League Competition for the second year running. Well done, and here’s to getting the hat-trick next year!
The central office and management employee forum was set up this year to consult and inform this group of Silver Spoon employees about key business decisions, challenges and opportunities along with an opportunity to raise concerns and ask questions. We meet every three months. All our other sites already have their own forum in place. John Power chairs the Joint Negotiating Committee for Bury, Newark and Bardney. Billingtons and Askeys have their own site forums chaired by the site managers. The Central Office and Management forum is chaired by Ian Mace, Finance Director. We balloted all represented employees about team representatives and they elected the following people:Michelle Maxwell, representing the Supply team, Les Blair, representing the Site Management teams, Abigail Wilson, representing the Customer Service team, Vanessa Day-English, representing the Home Baking team, Rebecca Burgess, representing the Kids and Snacking team, and Adrian Hallam, representing IT, HR and Finance. If you have questions or suggestions about any aspect of the business, please contact your representative who will be only too happy to get an answer for you, don’t forget you can ask either your line manager or any director as they visit sites as well. Please also look out for information and e-mails from your rep as they will be asking for your opinions on a number of issues over the next few months. Ray Merrick, Director Home-Baking
Brakes List New Crusha Hot Chocolate! What a great start to our new fiscal Linda Thompson has successfully secured distribution of our new Crusha Hot Chocolate in our No1. Foodservice Wholesaler from September! This is a huge breakthrough for the product and will lead the way to other major account listings. Crusha Hot Chocolate is ideal for the Independent Cafe, hospital wards and anyone wanting to make a perfect, non-messy, Hot Chocolate drink without any powder residue. We are looking forward to very positive sales from the product which is being promoted in October with a special launch trial price.
Crusha Makes a Stand at the LACA Exhibition Linda Thompson, Liz Staveley and Susie Green attended the 3 day LACA (Local Authority Caterers Association) exhibition, which is attended by over 5000 school trusts & catering managers. The purpose of the exhibition was to ensure a greater overall understanding of School meals requirements and the legislation which goes with this. Our Crusha Milk Shake mix meets all the requirements so it was a great opportunity to demonstrate this to the caterers. We presented the new bottle shape and formulations, and also the new pump dispenser which screws onto the bottle making it more user-friendly. We served over 1000 samples of the drinks and are looking forward to more business from our Foodservice customers after all our hard work! Linda Thompson, Business Controller
Linda Thompson, Business Controller
With over 1000 servings, Crusha proved to be a real hit!
....The last word....... It’s Summertime! And the living is easy... If only! What happened to lazing about in the sunshine, switching off the mobile phone, the laptop and the Blackberry thingy (if I had one), and taking it easy? Whatever happened to taking another dip in the pool, and then leisurely checking an old fashioned newspaper for the pre-season football transfer gossip, before succumbing to another Pimms and lemonade? I am sure that for many of you, this summer, like much of this difficult and challenging year, still feels like one hard slog. We all seem to be wading through the inclement weather precipitated by the Sugar Regime Reform, Supermarket price wars, and
inflationary cost pressures. So before you go on holiday, or just as you return to work after that well earned break, it is perhaps a good time to remind you of some of our major marketplace achievements this year, and to highlight the many complicated projects you have all been involved in one way or another. During the course of this financial year we have launched 77 new products and redesigned 117 products – nearly 200 products in all! In sugar, the list includes Silver Spoon ‘Home-grown’ Granulated, Caster and Icing Sugar, Billingtons Fair Trade sugars, a stack of Retailer brand products and the Pudsey pack! In flour it
Silver Spoon News, P.O. box 26, Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9QU.
Editor: Angelina Connolly.
includes Allinsons Organic range and Retailer brand for Tesco, Morrison’s and Asda. In Kids and Snacking the product list ranges from Crusha Hot Chocolate, StrawsYouCanEat, and Ready to Drink, to Billingtons Nuts and Seeds and Tesco Waffle Cones. Phew- not bad eh?! So may I sincerely thank you all throughout the business, for your contribution in these trying times. I cannot honestly say it will get any easier in the short term, but I know we can rely on your continued support. Sorry but I must close. I need to pack for my hols, and check if United have signed Berbatov yet. Now where did I put those old Speedo briefs...? Ray Merrick, Director Home-Baking
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