DANISH CROWN UK
AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2025
In this edition of our monthly newsletter
Pg 03 - Leadership Feature: Chris Neasham, Vice President
Pg 04 - Welcome: Jamie Dunning
Pg 05 - Sustainability at Danish Crown
Pg 06 - Mark Simmons reflects on our journey so far
Pg 07 - Celebrating 10 years of Bugle
Pg 09 - UK Health and Safety Maturity Survey
Pg 10 - Congratulations: Vanessa Coupe, our Culture Champion Award Winner
Pg 11 - Vote now: Women in Meat Industry Awards
Pg 12 - Support When You Need It Most: Find out about GroceryAid and Salary Sacrifice
Pg 13 - Viva Engage: What You Need to Know | Brain Teaser – Your Chance to Win
Pg 14 - Neurodiversity: Moving beyond awareness
Stronger Together: Building Focus, Culture, and Commercial Drive as we head toward Christmas
As we move through the second half of the year and start to see Christmas on the horizon, it’s a natural time to pause, reflect, and realign, both as individuals and as a team.
While our culture isn’t where we want it to be just yet, we’re making progress, and the commitment to build it together is what matters most. Culture isn’t created by words or posters on a wall; it’s built day by day through trust, teamwork, shared effort, and a clear sense of purpose.
Right now, Christmas planning is in full flow, and it’s fantastic to see how teams across our UK sites, Rochdale, Bugle, Halifax, Manchester, Bristol, and Nottingham are pulling together. What’s equally encouraging is how our collaboration is extending across borders, with our colleagues in Denmark and Essen working closely with us to ensure we deliver on our promises to customers during this critical period.
From a commercial perspective, we are working hard to win new business and maximise production across all our sites. Every order we land and every hour we optimise brings us closer to a stronger finish to the year and a more confident start to the next.
As we look ahead, here’s what I’d encourage from all of us:
• Pull together: The culture we want won’t be built by one team or person, it’s something we create, protect, and live, together.
• Keep communicating: The more connected we are, the more effective we become.
• Recognise progress: Small wins add up, let’s not lose sight of what’s going well.
• Stay commercially sharp: Let’s pursue opportunities, stay focused on delivery, and continue adding value for our customers.
• Take care: Looking after ourselves and each other ensures we finish the year strong and sustainably.
We have a real opportunity in these next few months. Let’s keep showing up for each other and make all our efforts count. December will be here before we know it and I am excited to see what we will accomplish together across all our sites and teams.
Chris Neasham Vice President, UK
Danish Crown UK welcomes Jamie Dunning
In April, Danish Crown announced the division of its operations into three independent business units: Industry, Foods, and UK. As head of the UK business, Jamie Dunning will focus on driving growth, ensuring efficient operations at the company’s UK production sites, and delivering outstanding service to customers.
“We have worked very purposefully to find a candidate with extensive experience in both sales and production, and – most importantly – a proven track record of creating growth. We have found that in Jamie Dunning, who brings broad experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to grow a food business. At the same time, he has an in-depth knowledge of agriculture, which I see as a significant advantage,” says Group CEO Niels Ulrich Duedahl.
Over the course of his career, Jamie Dunning has held several senior positions, most recently as CEO of Krispy Kreme in the UK and Ireland, where he was responsible for 140 stores, 16 bakeries, and 2,000 employees. At Mars, he led the transformation of M&M’s flagship stores in the US and previously oversaw chocolate sales to the British retail sector. He began his career at Cadbury, where he worked in production before moving into sales and marketing roles.
“I have farming in my blood, so it is a dream come true to work for a farmer-owned food company. The challenge of addressing current issues and creating growth for Danish Crown UK is something that greatly motivates me, and I am truly looking forward to starting in the role,” says Jamie Dunning.
Danish Crown UK has around 1,000 employees and an annual turnover of approximately DKK 4 billion. The business unit has been identified as a growth case for the Group and will be developed with strong local leadership and a constant focus on innovation, customer service, and long-term partnerships.
Jamie Dunning will take up the role on 1 September and will join Danish Crown’s Global Management Team alongside the leaders of the Group’s other business units.
Jamie Dunning Executive Vice President, UK
Sustainability at Danish Crown
As a leading global meat producer, we take our responsibility to protect the planet seriously.
Sustainability is at the core of our business strategy, Feeding the Future, which covers the entire value chain from farm to fork. The journey towards more sustainable meat production can only be achieved by joining forces across sectors and industries, working together to develop sustainable solutions.
What does SBTi mean?
SBTi stands for the Science Based Targets initiative. Danish Crown has committed to SBTi to ensure our climate goals are aligned with what science says is necessary to limit global warming. The initiative is widely recognised by leading companies and governments around the world. It provides a clear framework to ensure that companies’ emission reduction plans are robust, credible, and capable of driving real progress in the fight against climate change. SBTi targets are made up of something called Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions.
SBTi targets are based on three categories of greenhouse gas emissions that companies must measure, monitor, reduce and report:
Scope 1
Direct emissions
Emissions from our own operations.
Example: Fuel used in company vehicles, machinery, or certain facilities.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions from energy
Emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity.
Example: Electricity used to heat or cool products, even if it is generated by coal-fired plants.
Scope 3
Other indirect emissions
Emissions across our wider value chain, often the largest and hardest to measure.
Examples: Livestock production, goods we purchase, business travel, and employee commuting.
Within Danish Crown, we are working to calculate the carbon footprint of all our owner members to improve Scope 3 data accuracy.
What we’ve achieved so far – Danish Crown UK BU
• Founded the Sustainability Committee, including: Katie Major, Richard D´Entrecasteaux, Kerry Twigg, Chris Neasham, Mark Simmons, Mark Beaumont, Mark Ryan, Lorna Eddy, Jon Leivers, Nicola Richards, John Naylor, Chris Wankling.
• Agreed on a UK BU Sustainability Roadmap.
• Began rolling out the Roadmap concept in Bugle on 28 July 2025.
Katie
Major Senior Sustainability and Agricultural Manager
Mark Simmons reflects on our journey so far
Wow, August already! It’s unbelievable how quickly time flies. I hope you have all been enjoying the summer so far, whether it’s been BBQs, Wimbledon, the Women’s Euros final, or making the most of those occasional 30 degree days.
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we ramped up operations in Rochdale, recruiting a brand new team and pushing hard to deliver Christmas. With the support of superb managers, supervisors and our Danish colleagues we rose to the challenge, showing the same level of commitment across all sites.
Unfortunately, many of you will know that we had to make the very difficult decision to close our London site. Saying goodbye to so many talented and dedicated colleagues was one of the hardest parts of this year. The London team were passionate, extremely committed to Danish Crown and never let a customer down, always working with a smile and a strong sense of teamwork. I want to personally thank each of them and wish them all the very best for the future.
In more positive news, Leivers is now officially part of the Danish Crown family. This gives us a broader scope and capability to deliver our products across the UK which is a significant step forward for the business.
In July, commercial teams from across the UK, along with colleagues from Logistics and S&OP, met at the Bristol site to connect in person, discuss future plans, and strengthen communication and Leadership values. The day included an inspiring sustainability presentation from Katie Major and gave everyone greater insight into our products, site capabilities, and the skills across our UK teams. We will continue to welcome customers into our factories to showcase our people, facilities, and strengths.
As I always say, it’s important to get around the sites and meet as many of you as possible. I am always proud when I hear feedback from auditors about our engaged and motivated teams, the recent BRC AA+ at Bugle is just one fantastic example.
We have a great team, let’s keep working hard together. Let’s continue promoting a great culture and living by our leadership values Totality, Talent, Ambition, Trust and Followership.
Thanks for all your hard work.
Mark Simmons Senior Director, Operations
Celebrating 10 Years of Bugle with Danish Crown UK
This June marked a special milestone, it has been 10 years since Danish Crown took ownership of the Bugle site.
Over the past decade, the team has grown together, overcome challenges, and achieved remarkable success. This anniversary isn’t just about our history; it’s about you, the dedicated team that keeps everything running smoothly every day.
The team were treated to a free lunch, cupcake and cakes!
Let’s celebrate 10 incredible years at Bugle and look forward to the exciting journey ahead.
A Decade of Danish Crown
From the beginning and along the way – stories from our team
Dale Smith Butchery Lead
Lorna Eddy Packaging Technologist
My journey with Bugle began over 20 years ago when I relocated from West Yorkshire to Cornwall. I joined Roach Foods in August 2004, which later became Tulip in 2006 and eventually Danish Crown in 2015.
I started on the shop floor as a butcher and steadily worked my way up to Section Leader. In this role, I was responsible for running the chump line, focusing on the Arrow link system, and improving butchery yields. Back when I began, we were butchering around 15,000 legs per week. Today, that number averages around 60,000 legs per week, and at our peak, during the period of double shifts, we exceeded 100,000 legs in a single week several times.
In early 2015, I briefly took on a secondment as a Project Manager at Redruth before returning to Bugle once I heard Danish Crown would be taking over operations. In 2017, I was proud to be appointed as the Butchery Lead, a role I applied for and have held ever since.
In 2015, Bugle officially became a Danish Crown site. During the changeover, I worked closely with the Danish Crown Procurement Team to transition all direct packaging and ingredients for MRP, from intake to shipping. This included sourcing and engaging both new and existing UK suppliers, all under tight deadlines. I was also responsible for the setup and transfer of SAP and Master Data systems, moving from the Tulip interface to Danish Crown’s system for Planning and MRP.
Later, I expanded my role across all UK sites, becoming the official UK Business Unit Counterpart for Dry Goods. I supported Group Procurement in Denmark on key tender projects and supplier frameworks.
In May 2024, I returned to the Technical team, taking on the role of UK Group Packaging Technologist. I continue to oversee packaging responsibilities for the UK, while taking on new challenges and collaborating closely with Group Procurement.
I’ve also reconnected with Retail, supporting the new Rochdale site and working directly with customers again. There’s a major focus on sustainability and recyclability, and I’m actively involved in packaging trials, supplier projects, artwork development, barcode optimisation, and advising on scanning and labelling hardware/software.
Page 8
UK Health & Safety Maturity 2025
Check – We Need Your Feedback!
Help us drive continuous improvement by taking a few minutes to complete our short, anonymous survey.
Survey open from: 28th July to 31st August 2025
How to take part:
• Check your inbox for the survey email and follow the link
• Scan the QR code on the poster using your phone
Your feedback matters, thank you for helping us improve health and safety across the UK.
Congratulations Vanessa Coupe
Vanessa is the Assistant Shift Manager at our Bugle site and was recently nominated by a number of her peers for creating a sense of common direction and purpose, and for proactively working towards the same overall goals.
“Vanessa has taken control of the new permanent PM shift in Bugle and is in the process of building a new team. She has taken a large number of new colleagues under her wing and closely supports them to ensure their training and integration is smooth and positive.”
- Gary Little, Senior HRBP
Other notable mentions this month go to Simon Hawken, Senior Hygiene Operative in Bugle, for consistently challenging people and processes in a constructive way, driving positive change and better outcomes; John Byrne, for his supportive approach and strong problem-solving skills that have helped the team work more efficiently; and Askir Ali, who has dedicated 14 years to the warehouse, bringing extensive production experience and consistently delivering excellent work.
A huge congratulations to all, and everyone who was nominated. The nominations for next month is now open! If you want to nominate a colleague, please fill this online form. Please include as much detail as you can when submitting your nomination. Each month the UK leadership team will review the nominations and choose a winner who will receive a £50 voucher.
Thanks for helping us celebrate the people shaping the future of Danish Crown.
Vote Now: Women in Meat Industry Awards
The Women in Meat Industry Awards celebrate the vital contributions women make to the meat sector, recognising leadership, innovation and dedication across the industry.
We are proud to share that five incredible women from Danish Crown have been shortlisted this year!
The winners are decided by public vote, so the more votes they get, the better their chances of winning. Let’s show our support and help them get the recognition they deserve.
Cast your vote here or by scanning the QR code.
Voting closes on: Tuesday 26th August
Let’s celebrate the amazing impact they’re making in the industry.
• Multiple Retailing: Amie Ryan - National Sales Account Executive
• Foodservice (Catering butcher): Alesha Banfield - Business Controller
• Manufacturing/Processing: Naomi Howgate - Production Manager
• Livestock Procurement & Sustainability: Katie Major - Senior Sustainability and Agricultural Manager
• Wholesaling: Nicola Richards - Business Controlling Manager
Amie Ryan National Sales Account Executive
Alesha Banfield Business Controller
Naomi Howgate Production Manager
Katie Major Senior Sustainability and Agricultural Manager
Nicola Richards Business Controlling Manager
Discover GroceryAid’s free support services
Make life a little easier.
GroceryAid offers free, confidential financial, emotional, and practical support to those working in the grocery industry.
• Call the free helpline: 08088 021 122
• Visit: www.groceryaid.org.uk/get-help
• Scan the QR code on the right to find out more
Salary Sacrifice & Workplace Meetings
You can now opt into our pension salary sacrifice scheme, a tax-efficient way to boost your pension. While most employees will benefit from this arrangement, it’s important to note that salary sacrifice may not be suitable for everyone. All information is available on the UK Company Benefits page. If you don’t have a company email, please use the login details shown in the image on the right to access the intranet.
Workplace Pension Meetings – September 2025
Pension expert Iain Lemonzik will run drop-in sessions and 1:1 appointments. Please contact your site People & Culture Team or the Payroll Team (payrolluk@danishcrown.com) to request an appointment, providing a short summary of your query.
Site dates:
Rochdale – 1 & 2 Sept | Manchester – 3 Sept | Halifax – 4 Sept | Nottingham – 8 Sept | Bristol – 9 Sept | Bugle – 10 & 11 Sept | Warwick - 16 Sept
Viva Engage: What You Need to Know
Some of you may have already been exploring the Danish Crown UK community in Viva Engage. This is your space to talk, listen, connect, and share. Here, you’ll find exciting updates and inspiring stories from across our UK sites, shared by our leadership team and colleagues.
You also have access to the Danish Crown Family community, where you can hear directly from top management, including our Group CEO, Group CFO, and other senior leaders.
To find out more about why you should join and how to access Viva Engage via Teams, head to the intranet and watch our ‘how-to’ videos here.
A few things to remember:
• You will need a Danish Crown email address to use Viva Engage.
• Some posts may be in Danish, but Viva Engage has a built-in auto-translate feature, so you can instantly read them in English.
Why not start your own community?
If you’ve got a shared interest, project, or passion, creating a community is a great way to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and collaborate across sites. Whether it’s work-related or social, your community could be the next big conversation on Viva Engage.
If you have any questions please reach out to Angela Bhatta at anbh@danishcrown.com.
Brain teaser
Emoji Film Quiz Challenge!
Think you can crack them all? Get every answer correct for your chance to win a small prize! Send your answers to ukcomms@danishcrown.com. A random winner will be selected from all correct entries.
Neurodiversity: Moving Beyond Awareness
It is estimated that around one in seven people in the UK (over 15 per cent) are neurodivergent. The term neurodivergence is an umbrella concept used to describe different ways of thinking, including dyslexia, developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia), dyscalculia, autism, Tourette’s, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how people think and process information. It is not a clinical or diagnostic term, but rather a social movement that recognises and values neurological differences, promoting understanding and acceptance instead of stigma.
Quick Tips for Becoming Neuroinclusive
• Use positive, person-first language: Ask how individuals prefer to be referred to.
• Hold open, ongoing conversations: Use tools like the NHS health passport to document and revisit individual working preferences.
• Raise awareness: Run training sessions to foster understanding and empathy.
• Activate staff networks: Empower neurodivergent colleagues through peer support and input into workplace policies.
• Build psychological safety: Make it easy for people to speak up and ask for what they need.
• Adopt inclusive working practices: Offer flexibility, notice for meetings, hybrid options, and quiet spaces, all without requiring disclosure.
• Make the physical environment accessible: Quiet areas, adjustable lighting, and noise-cancelling headphones can make a big difference.
You can find more information here. Or scan the QR code.
Send in your stories!
Whether you’ve accomplished a sports challenge, celebrated a team promotion, supported a local charity, or cooked up a Danish Crown feast – we want to hear about it.
Send your stories and photos to Angela at anbh@danishcrown.com for a chance to be featured in our monthly newsletter. We will share as many as we can!