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Substantial Savings - Minor Changes!
At JR Hollands - a cross functional team from Sales to Operations, including Transport and Warehouse focused on improving the Pick process and identifying the root cause of errors.
JR Holland Food Services is a chilled Distributor of food products in the North East region. They are contracted by all twelve Local Authorities to supply fruit, vegetables and other products to schools, colleges and hospitals. It also supports a wide range of Independent Retailers, Pubs, Restaurants and Foodservice businesses across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Teesside.
A cross functional team from Sales to Operations, including Transport and Warehouse focussed on improving the Pick process and identifying the root cause of errors. The main improvements presented were changes to the picking process and the introduction of pre-packing and standard pack sizes to improve order picking and the reduction of delivery errors. The identified and implemented changes are being recognised in the substantial reduction in Order entry issues, Pick issues and Delivery issues along with the reduced base cost element.
Dennis Hutchinson, Managing Director said ‘This was a worthwhile experience which was challenging and made us think about how and why we do things the way we do them! It's like a business health check - everyone should have one!'
Free fruit at Work?
J.R Holland Food Services support pioneering study
Team Valley based J.R Holland Food Services has been selected as the official provider for a brand new European study which will examine if the provision of free fruit in the workplace is a useful way to improve an employee’s health and wellbeing.
The Fruit at Work study, a first for the UK, has been developed by the Technical University of Denmark in collaboration with Newcastle University and will be taking place at Durham County Hall involving 400 of their employees.
J.R Holland has been selected for the project due to their reputation for excellent quality, service and price. As major suppliers of fruit and vegetables in the region, including all the Local Authorities in North-East England, they are very aware and in full support of workers increasing their fruit and vegetable intake.
“It is fantastic that we have been chosen as the provider for this project, we all know that fruit is fantastic for your health and wellbeing, but for one reason or another, there are a vast majority of workers who are not eating enough,” said Dennis Hutchinson, Managing Director of J.R Holland Food Services.
“There are many initiatives promoting healthy eating to school children but I think sometimes employees within the workplace need a bit of reminding,” adds Dennis.
According to Charlotte Bryant, Research Nutritionist and Project Co-ordinator at Newcastle University, cost and availability are the two main reasons people do not eat enough fruit. “This project overcomes both of these problems. The idea is that if people have easy access to fruit they are less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks,” said Charlotte.
The project involves 400 employees, half of which will receive two pieces of fruit per day while the other half will receive none, before swapping halfway through. During the test period the research team will measure weight, blood pressure and waist line along with examining snacking behaviour, staff morale and overall productivity.
Charlotte comments: “Fruit and vegetables are a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibres, helping protect the body against chronic diseases and reducing fluctuations in blood concentrations. Our Danish counterparts seem to have the right idea, with over 60% of companies providing free fruit to their employees,”
The Fruit at Work study falls within under an EU funded project entitled ISAFRUIT, a 13.8 million euros international study involving over 300 scientists from 16 different countries.
Local business gives back
J.R Holland Food Services Support Inner City Community Project
AS part of its expanding Corporate Social Responsibility policy, J.R Holland Food Services will be rolling out a programme of in-kind contributions to community projects in the North East area.
The Team Valley based business which supplies fresh produce to local authorities and businesses throughout the region has taken on this initiative to contribute to its native North East community.
The first project to sign up to the programme is the renowned Stepney Banks Stables, a charitable organisation based in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley in which horses are used to motivate, educate and pass on key social skills to disadvantaged and hard to reach groups.
Dennis Hutchinson, Managing Director of J.R Holland Food Services comments; “Our business prides itself on quality, service and price yet underlying this we have always been a very ethical company that looks after its employees as well as customers. Because of our ethos we have enjoyed great success in the region and we feel that its time to give something back.”
J.R Holland Food Services will be making a weekly delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables including apples, carrots and turnips for the 25 horses housed by Stepney Banks Stables on a continual basis. This gesture will contribute to the welfare of the horses which are currently enjoyed by the stables’ 400 regular users.
“We are very appreciative of this kind gesture” said Susan Tron, General Manager of Stepney Banks Stables. “As our horses do not have the opportunity to graze naturally it is very important that they receive fresh fruit and vegetables for sustenance in their diet so that they are healthy and well, to carry out the work they do within the community.
“It’s great to hear that a successful local company is taking the time and the effort to give back to the community and J.R Holland Food Services should be commended for their initiative.”
Clarence’s community farm recieves boost from local business
J.R Holland Food Services Signs Second Community Project to CSR Initiative
Clarence’s Community Farm located in one of the North East’s most socially deprived areas in Teesside has received a helping hand with its livestock thanks to J.R. Holland Food Services.
The inner city community farm situated in the once high crime area of Port Clarence, Middlesbrough will be receiving weekly donations of fruits, greens and root vegetables to feed the sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, horse, and poultry that reside on the farm.
J.R Holland Food Services will be providing the weekly contributions as part of its expanding CSR policy which targets community projects in the North East area. Clarence’s Community Farm is the second project to sign up to the initiative and follows Stepney Banks Stables based in Newcastle.
“I’ve been here since the farm’s opening 18 years ago when the need for a community project such as this was identified by local residents. Port Clarence is not the most affluent of areas, and the farm gives town children the opportunity to experience rural life. We have locals as well as visitors coming through our gates, many of our staff are volunteers and we survive solely on grant funding.” said Dave Featherstone, Farm Manager.
“As we do not charge entry, the ongoing donations made by J.R. Holland are a massive help, saving the costs of our food bills by up to 20% and providing the animals with much needed nutrition. We can not express how appreciative we are of this good deed, and we urge more companies to give back to their community.”
J.R. Holland Food Services based in Team Valley, Gateshead currently supply fresh produce to a range of private businesses and local authorities across the North East of England.
Dennis Hutchinson, Managing Director of J.R. Holland Food Services comments: “We are a North East company and feel that is important to give back to the community which we have served. It’s up to businesses like ours to show our support and do what we can for the community and this is certainly a step in the right direction.
“Clarence’s Community Farm is a fantastic project which provides visitors and local residents with an educational resource, sense of community and above all, something to smile about. We are very pleased to offer our continued support to this project.”
J.R Holland Food Services are rolling out their community initiative across the North East and are looking to take on more projects in the local area.
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