Export sales boost from focus on skills

Export sales boost from focus on skills Thu 29 Dec 2011 Investing in skills has helped Crossgar Foodservice to win new export business worth around £8 million over the past two years, according to Dr Bill McGinnis, the Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills. Dr McGinnis, speaking during a visit to the company, based at Seaforde in Co Down and now one of the leading food distribution businesses in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said: “Crossgar Foodservice has invested in skills to support a business growth strategy that is targeted primarily on opportunities it has identified for its products and expertise in the Republic of Ireland. “This progressive and ambitious company recognised that strengthening the skills, knowledge and expertise of employees, at all levels, would enhance its ability to compete successfully and profitably in the Republic of Ireland, its initial target market outside Northern Ireland. “Northern Ireland companies, both large and small and across all business sectors, can play a key role in our economic development through a strategic approach to exporting. Success in export markets such as the Republic of Ireland requires companies to assess their skill levels and to take the necessary steps to ensure they are able to compete especially in today’s immensely challenging business environment. “Crossgar Foodservice identified the skills they needed and implementing a structured training programme which is now producing real dividends in the shape of significant business from public sector organisations. “Crossgar Foodservice is an excellent role model for other companies in food processing and other sectors of what can be achieved through a commitment to skills and training.” Dr McGinnis, who is also the Northern Ireland Commissioner on the UK Commission on Employment and Skills, was briefed about the company’s commitment to assist employees enhance skills through training programmes by Michael Morrissey, Crossgar Foodservice Managing Director. The company has secured a series of public sector tenders in the Republic, the most recent being a £5 million contract to supply products to the prison service sourced largely from the group’s Irish businesses which include Crossgar Meats, Crossgar Poultry and Crossgar Foodservice. Crossgar Foodservice is supplying beef, pork, poultry and eggs to the prison service for meals in its 14 institutions throughout the Republic, as a result of its success in a competitive tender process. It has also secured business from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Defence, both based in Dublin. Mr Morrissey said: “We have a longstanding commitment to training staff in the skills that will enable them to carry out their work efficiently and will help them in developing careers throughout the company. “It made sense when we saw opportunities to increase sales of our portfolio of products in the Republic to examine the skills required to ensure success. In particular, we pinpointed a need to develop skills that would enable us to win more business from public sector organisations there, the largest market for food products. “We recognised that success depended upon our ability to develop really competitive tenders. This recognition led us to take part in a procurement training programme which included expert guidance on preparing tender documentation. We then decided to set up a dedicated public procurement unit which monitors tender calls and produces the required documentation efficiently and quickly. “The investment in training staff and in setting up the unit has been tremendously beneficial. We have strengthened our overall competitiveness, won significant new business and gained confidence that will enable us to bid for business in other markets.” Crossgar Foodservice, which employs over 230 people, currently secures over 40 per cent of its business from public and private sector clients in the Republic. Contracts won in the Republic have helped the company, which has sales of around €50m per annum, to achieve 25 per cent growth over the past few years. The company has also gained a string of prestigious awards under its “Provenance Collection”, which includes Glouchester Old Spot Pork, Dorset Lamb and Great Taste Award winning products such as Dexter Beef and Lissara Farm Free Range Corn Fed Chicken and Duck. Established in 1959, Crossgar Foodservice now includes many of the leading public and private sector organisations in Ireland among its customer base.

Thu 29 Dec 2011

Investing in skills has helped Crossgar Foodservice to win new export business worth around £8 million over the past two years, according to Dr Bill McGinnis, the Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills.

Dr McGinnis, speaking during a visit to the company, based at Seaforde in Co Down and now one of the leading food distribution businesses in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said:

“Crossgar Foodservice has invested in skills to support a business growth strategy that is targeted primarily on opportunities it has identified for its products and expertise in the Republic of Ireland.

“This progressive and ambitious company recognised that strengthening the skills, knowledge and expertise of employees, at all levels, would enhance its ability to compete successfully and profitably in the Republic of Ireland, its initial target market outside Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland companies, both large and small and across all business sectors, can play a key role in our economic development through a strategic approach to exporting. Success in export markets such as the Republic of Ireland requires companies to assess their skill levels and to take the necessary steps to ensure they are able to compete especially in today’s immensely challenging business environment.

“Crossgar Foodservice identified the skills they needed and implementing a structured training programme which is now producing real dividends in the shape of significant business from public sector organisations.

“Crossgar Foodservice is an excellent role model for other companies in food processing and other sectors of what can be achieved through a commitment to skills and training.”

Dr McGinnis, who is also the Northern Ireland Commissioner on the UK Commission on Employment and Skills, was briefed about the company’s commitment to assist employees enhance skills through training programmes by Michael Morrissey, Crossgar Foodservice Managing Director.

The company has secured a series of public sector tenders in the Republic, the most recent being a £5 million contract to supply products to the prison service sourced largely from the group’s Irish businesses which include Crossgar Meats, Crossgar Poultry and Crossgar Foodservice.

Crossgar Foodservice is supplying beef, pork, poultry and eggs to the prison service for meals in its 14 institutions throughout the Republic, as a result of its success in a competitive tender process. It has also secured business from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Defence, both based in Dublin.

Mr Morrissey said: “We have a longstanding commitment to training staff in the skills that will enable them to carry out their work efficiently and will help them in developing careers throughout the company.

“It made sense when we saw opportunities to increase sales of our portfolio of products in the Republic to examine the skills required to ensure success. In particular, we pinpointed a need to develop skills that would enable us to win more business from public sector organisations there, the largest market for food products.

“We recognised that success depended upon our ability to develop really competitive tenders. This recognition led us to take part in a procurement training programme which included expert guidance on preparing tender documentation. We then decided to set up a dedicated public procurement unit which monitors tender calls and produces the required documentation efficiently and quickly.

“The investment in training staff and in setting up the unit has been tremendously beneficial. We have strengthened our overall competitiveness, won significant new business and gained confidence that will enable us to bid for business in other markets.”

Crossgar Foodservice, which employs over 230 people, currently secures over 40 per cent of its business from public and private sector clients in the Republic.

Contracts won in the Republic have helped the company, which has sales of around €50m per annum, to achieve 25 per cent growth over the past few years.

The company has also gained a string of prestigious awards under its “Provenance Collection”, which includes Glouchester Old Spot Pork, Dorset Lamb and Great Taste Award winning products such as Dexter Beef and Lissara Farm Free Range Corn Fed Chicken and Duck.

Established in 1959, Crossgar Foodservice now includes many of the leading public and private sector organisations in Ireland among its customer base.