Our working practices and operating systems are another cornerstone of our success. Without these, our vision could never become a reality. As with all areas of the organisation they are based upon a dedication to excellence, innovation and an unflinching sense of responsibility towards stakeholders and employees, suppliers, trade customers and end users.
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Whitworths is committed to the personal and professional development of its entire workforce. Comprehensive NVQ and CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health) food hygiene training, conducted by full-time assessors, is ongoing. In 2005 alone, 156 people enrolled on the NVQ Food & Drink Manufacturing Operations Level 1 Award. Of these, 105 are now enrolled on Level 2 and 50 are being offered the chance to gain further NVQ qualifications in areas such as warehousing, distribution and storage.
Electrical and mechanical skills training have resulted in a 2 per cent reduction in engineering downtime, reducing the direct labour cost per case.
Whitworths have successfully implemented the 'Bullet Proof Manager' training programme for middle and senior management. This reinforced learning scheme is recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management and the Institute of Business Advisors.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Whitworths has a company-wide commitment to environmental management. Major reductions in fossil fuel usage and more efficient use of electricity and gas ensure that Climate Change Levy targets are not just met but exceeded. For example, investment in a steam boiler system has dramatically reduced noise levels, fuel consumption and C02 emissions.
Water conservation is another priority. Microbial digestion, a totally natural process, treats all fruit washing waste waters and all drainage points are colour coded to ensure that only clean water is discharged from the site.
Whitworths also pays for tonnes of waste cardboard, film and paper to be separated, compacted and recycled each year.
GLOBAL SOURCING EXPERTISE
Whitworths has a truly world-wide sourcing capability, with over 4,000 different raw materials and packaging items coming from Europe, the Americas, the Near and Middle East and South East Asia.
Almost every item we source is a commodity whose price and availability is in constant flux. When combined with the high quality expectations of our customers and the rigorous specifications set by our technical team, it makes our purchasing expertise a key competitive strength. By fully utilising our group buying power, we have now become the UK's No1 buyer of vine fruits, No1 buyer of Turkish red split lentils, the No1 buyer of dried cranberries, No1 buyer of almonds and No1 buyer of apricots.
Every product, whatever its origins, is also sourced under a strictly ethical trading policy.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND FOOD SAFETY
Sourcing food products from all around the globe can bring considerable challenges and our policy in this area is essentially one of by example. We set the very highest QA and food safety standards and all suppliers are audited to a risk assessment audit schedule. Our relationships with these producers is on a 'technical to technical' basis to the extent that we know how a product is grown, harvested, cleaned and transported. If required, we will provide on-site training to help suppliers develop their own 'world-class' standards.
The company has achieved higher-level BRC accreditation for its Irthlingborough site and CLAS accreditation for its chemical and microbiological laboratories, both with zero non-conformances.
PROCESS INNOVATION
Our process systems have been considerably enhanced by a streamlined reporting structure that places a renewed emphasis on team integration. People have embraced the chance to take on greater responsibility, for example, technicians now have line responsibility and report directly to departmental team leaders. In addition, improved maintenance skills and training have led to increased line speeds, coupled with a reduction in machine set-up times and film and carton specifications have been largely standardised.
Our process innovations have of course been key to our programme of product innovation. Dried fruit takes on a whole new life when it becomes orange infused dried cranberries!
New processes has also enabled Whitworths to expand its automated printing and labelling application on line, thus increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Two of our key aims are to provide customers with unprecedented levels of service as well as best value. In 2005/6 we have worked closely with our suppliers to exceed customer service levels of 98.5%, whilst increasing volume output to meet sales growth of more than 11%.
Everything from flexi-pillow packs, sachets, stand-up pouches, plastic tubs, block-bottom bags and bulk cases are all now comfortably within our expertise. Within the high volume industrial sector, this has given us the opportunity to fulfil greater demands and deliver added value. We believe that by putting in place the necessary systems, people and technology to achieve these aims, we have created a supply chain that, like many other areas of the business, stands as 'world class'.
Similarly our computerised MRP system integrates all of our business systems - from planning and purchasing to processing, manufacturing and distribution, whilst our 'optimising' system defines resources, capacity, processing and distribution for each and every production activity. These systems are managed by a team who are setting new standards in operations and logistics.
A few facts bear witness to the strength of our supply chain:
- 60 dedicated packing lines
- 130 million bags made annually
- 1100 different products manufactured
- 190,000 deliveries made
- 50,000 tonnes of fruit
- 2,500 containers
OUR PARTNERS
Whitworths success has been forged not only on the strong and trusting relationships we enjoy with partners and traders all over the globe, but equally with our key customers. Our ingredients appear in some of Britain's best selling grocery products and in a number of the world's most famous 'household names'.
Our customer base encompasses large scale food manufacturers, major brand owners, all of the UK's major multiple retailers and most recently, leading high street impulse retailers. These cover all the relevant food categories, from bread, cakes and cereals, to confectionery, biscuits and snacks.
To many of these customers we are seen as invaluable commercial allies, working dynamically with our clients to achieve category growth. These customers understand that heavyweight buying power, coupled with total technical flexibility is a rare commodity indeed.
Food safety is of paramount importance to consumers, and for all industrial manufacturers and retailers it remains a key consideration. At Whitworths, this subject has always been treated with the utmost gravity. Our technical experts produce the detailed specifications which provide the basis for all of our purchasing. An 'intake analysis' is conducted on every item in order to establish its 'physical', 'analytical' and 'micro-biological' safety and no item can be used until 'positively released' by the technical department.
With consumer safety in mind we meticulously complete our due diligence obligations under the Food Safety Act. Our whole site is accredited to the higher level BRC standard and we are active members of several food and trade research associations.
Because of the health risks associated with nut allergy, all nut handling and processing is conducted within a self-contained factory on the main Whitworths site.