FOOD & DRINK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- ILLVA Saronno Holding CEO
Aldino Marzorati, ILLVA Saronno Holding CEO, said: "We are pleased and proud to announce the complete acquisition of Engine, a 100% Italian brand that integrates perfectly into our established portfolio. The decision to acquire Engine is an integral part of our corporate strategy, aimed at offering excellent products globally.
Job Titles:
- PPMA Group of Associations' Chairman
Job Titles:
- Chairman of LEC Beverages, Sai
Jack Perry, Chairman of LEC Beverages, said: "We're thrilled to be taking on responsibility for Tsingtao's licensing, sales and distribution in the UK. We have a long-standing history of developing and nurturing premium imported brands in the UK market and we know how important capturing a brand's authentic heritage is as part of delivering a smart route to market strategy. We're excited to bring our expertise in this area to Tsingtao and look forward to collaborating with In Good Company for the first time."
Job Titles:
- Sustainable Packaging Manager at Asda
Jon Wells, sustainable packaging manager at Asda, said: "We're always looking at new ways that we can make positive changes which will benefit both our customers and the planet, and we believe that this is one of those changes.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Nulogy in Europe
Josephine Coombe, Managing Director of Nulogy in Europe, discusses the role of digitalisation in the supply chain and the importance of increased collaboration between contract manufacturing and co-packing partners. Even if we put the impact of Covid-19 to one side, the days of predictable consumer demand and stable retail channels are long gone, and today's manufacturing supply chains need agility and resilience to keep up with volatile market conditions. Market trends and consumer preferences are constantly changing and evolving, and suppliers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are therefore increasingly relying on their external manufacturing and co-packing partners to help bring products to market quickly and cost-effectively. However, many of these suppliers lack the ability to collaborate effectively, shackled by the limitations of manual and outdated systems. The fact is that in times of increased complexity of development processes and supply lines, manual and time intensive processes will not provide FMCG brands with the levels of support and innovation they need. Legacy systems, spreadsheets and old-style trading of phone calls and emails create a mountain of non-standardised data, meaning FMCG supply chain leaders often have a total lack of visibility and control over their production and order progress. Shining a light Digitalisation provides a clear path through all this confusion. Cloud based platforms such as Nulogy, operate at brand, co-packer and strategic levels. Multi-enterprise collaboration becomes a reality through their use and bridges the gap between brands and their external manufacturing and packaging networks. Real-time data is seamlessly shared, workflows streamlined, milestones and KPIs easily tracked with shared accountability between the FMCG and their supplier - all of which allow this ecosystem to bring consumer products to retail customers with increased speed, flexibility, and reliability. Production metrics can also more easily be managed and optimised, enabling brands to drive continuous improvements in external performance. And although many FMCG organisations may already have internal ERPs in place, a collaborative solution is able to complement these pre-existing systems and seamlessly integrate with both internal systems and external suppliers, who can simply plug into the brand's software. There are many benefits of this approach, from increased responsiveness and reduction in risk to optimisation of resources and improved sustainability. This is why Nulogy is leveraged by many of the world's leading brands including L'Oréal, P&G, Mars, and Church & Dwight to both optimise and accelerate global supply chain performance. Delivering for contract suppliers In the same way that brands are not dependent on external suppliers having to invest in the same platform to facilitate their digitalisation programme, contract packers and manufacturers can similarly choose to employ software independently of their clients. In this situation operational solutions are tailored specifically to enhance all the key functions in a co-pack day-to-day environment, be it inventory management, production planning and job estimations. For contract packers and manufacturers, digitalisation is the key to enhancing efficiency, improving profitability, and ensuring quality. The availability of real-time data on performance tracking and material management means they can gain better visibility of their operations, ensuring lines are hitting targets and stock count is accurate. With precise information at their fingertips, suppliers can also improve labour proficiency and reduce inventory write-offs from lower material obsolescence. Major US based food packer, Bell-Carter Packaging, has seen Nulogy's co-packing software deliver value on the shop floor as well as at the strategic business level, illustrating how digitalisation is a hidden gem of opportunity for those looking to stand out from the competition and unlock strategic growth. In the UK, Marsden Packaging, based in Blackburn, UK, specialises in primary and secondary packaging services for the food and pharmaceutical sectors and has been using Nulogy's software to power its operations in the UK for over five years. Alongside the overall flexibility of the platform, Marsden has seen efficiencies and sustainability benefits come from the use of Nulogy by improving workflows and making the business a more efficient production unit through avoiding costly waste. Stronger together Ultimately, a multi-enterprise supply chain network - unified through digital transformation - can deliver both a raft of operational and financial benefits and, just as importantly, also strengthen relations between FMCG brands and external suppliers. By sharing data and working together to fulfil orders, mutual trust is built. All sides can achieve their objectives, and this generates a ‘win-win' situation in this critical part of the supply chain as it meets the demands of a constantly changing world.
Paolo Dalla Mora, ENGINE founder, said: "For me, this is a dream come true. I started ENGINE at the age of forty, after a career as a manager in large companies, from an idea in a garage. I launched the first can in Italy in May 2019, and by April 2021, it had become a successful small multinational, now present in over 30 markets. It's every marketer's dream to see their strategies solidify globally, and it's every entrepreneur's dream to achieve a successful exit.
Automate UK CEO, Peter Williamson has been appointed as the new chair of the Make UK affiliate partner board. He will also represent the affiliate partner programme on Make UK's national membership board. Peter, who recently stepped down from his managing director role at RARUK Automation in order to focus on Automate UK, is passionate about the need for the UK manufacturing sector to adopt more Automation, to empower small businesses, as well as upskilling and increasing the country's workforce. Peter said: "Being appointed to the Make UK affiliate partner board is a huge honour. Following on from the previous chair, Steve Brambley who was a fantastic chair will be a challenge but one that I welcome as we continue to be the voice of our industry." By welcoming Peter onto the board, the reach of both organisations has been extended to the benefit of all their members. Not only will communication between these sector leaders become smoother; they will be able to share ideas and best practices, not to mention access a wide base of resources. Chris Corkan, Region Director - Midlands & East of England & Affiliate Partnerships at Make UK, said: "I am delighted that Peter Williamson, CEO, Automate UK (previously known as PPMA) has accepted the role of Affiliate Partner Board Chair. Peter and I look forward to continuing to work with you all moving forwards. "I would also like to take the opportunity to re-iterate thanks on behalf of Make UK to Steve Brambley, CEO, GAMBICA who has been an excellent Chair and supporter to our collective work on behalf of manufacturing in recent years. Particularly guiding the voice of the affiliate partner programme during covid-19. Steve remains a welcome and active participant in this group moving forwards."
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of First Milk, Sai
Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive of First Milk, said: "I am delighted to complete the acquisition of BV Dairy, a successful family-owned business, which shares many common values with First Milk - a focus on people and community, environmental performance, exceptional quality and long-term value creation. We look forward to welcoming the wider BV Dairy family into our First Milk family. "The BV Dairy business has strong customer relationships and a reputation for quality and service across food manufacture and food service. This provides a genuine extension to our business, extending our manufacturing and market reach, offering a platform for the further growth and development of our business." Farmer director and vice-chairman, Mike Smith, added: "This purchase builds on the existing strengths of First Milk and will bring wider benefits, adding value for our members whilst creating opportunities for our colleagues and enabling us to extend our regenerative positioning into a broader range of dairy products and customers. This is a great step forward as we work together to secure the future." Jim Highnam, Managing Director of BV Dairy, added: "Having made the decision to sell the business, we wanted to ensure that the new owners would provide a secure future for our customers, colleagues, farmers and suppliers. "As such, I'm pleased to finalise this transaction and see BV Dairy become part of First Milk, as both businesses share a down-to-earth, pragmatic approach, balancing the needs of all stakeholders. I look forward to working with our new First Milk colleagues to continue to grow and develop BV Dairy."
Job Titles:
- Smirnoff Global Brand Director
Stephanie Jacoby, Smirnoff Global Brand Director, said: "Smirnoff is a brand that has been innovating since 1864 and, as the world's #1 vodka, we think it's important that our portfolio feels fresh and inclusive. "We innovate and develop exciting new flavours to appeal to as many different people as possible, making our drinks as diverse as the people who drink them. These new flavours draw inspiration from cultures around the world to create unique taste experiences that we hope everyone will enjoy."