November 2015
Peterborough sites are the Pride of Produce World
Two Peterborough-based sites of leading vegetable grower and supplier the Produce World Group put in
excellent performances in the company’s annual awards – the Pride of Produce World. Between them the
head office at Lynch Wood and the site at Yaxley won two categories, came second in one and third in two
more. Colleagues based at these sites were also part of teams from across the business that won one
category and came second in another.
One of the most notable wins was the award for Customer First Team, which went to the whole of the Yaxley
site for its work on transferring organic roots business from the company’s newly-acquired site in Scotland.
Operations Manager Jamie Tointon said: “The whole of the team at Yaxley was delighted to be taking on this
additional business, but they knew that it was a big responsibility and that getting it right was absolutely
critical. Everybody has shown great commitment and delivered a smooth transition, much to the delight of
the customer.”
Produce World’s Head Office at Lynch Wood came first in two categories – Community Impact and
Outstanding Innovation. The Community Impact Award - a joint first with a team from the company’s
Chatteris site – went to the Kitchen Garden Project Team, which included colleagues from Lynch Wood and
Caroline Williams, one of the company’s agronomists. This group helped local hospice Thorpe Hall to restore
its Kitchen Garden for use by residents and visitors.
CSR and Agronomy Administrator Rachel Ilgunas said: “This team, with the support of friends and family,
worked on one of the hottest days of the summer to clear this land. The transformation on this site has been
astonishing, and I know they are all very proud to have made a contribution to the fantastic work that
Thorpe Hall is doing.”
Sheldon Peacock and Paul Hatfield won the Outstanding Innovation Award for designing and implementing a
new financial reporting system which has improved financial management reporting across the business.
Sheldon spent the Christmas holidays designing the code, and then worked closely with Paul to implement it
across the business.
Business Solutions Director Jonathan Tole said: “This innovation has revolutionised reporting in the business
and has helped considerably in the restructuring of our finance team. Sheldon and Paul have not only shown
innovation but also a great ‘can-do’ attitude, going over and above the requirements of their everyday jobs.”
Leonie Watson from the Yaxley site was Joint First Runner-Up in Colleague of the Year. Colleagues from
Lynch Wood were part of the Wykeham Go Live team which took the First Runner-up award in the Customer
First Team category, and the GreenLight Roll-Out Team from the same site was Second Runner-Up in this
category. Sally Wilkinson, Head of HR Shared Services, was Second Runner-Up in the Customer First
Individual Award.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony Group HR Director David Frost said: “Every year these awards shine a
light on some fantastic examples of individuals and teams who go over and above the requirements of their
everyday jobs to deliver the products and service that our customers require. This year we have seen some
great examples of exactly that, particularly in the new Customer First categories.”
Colleagues from Produce World’s Yaxley site celebrate winning the Customer First Team Award
Joint Community Impact Winners at the Pride of Produce World Awards.
Notes to Editors
The Pride of Produce World Awards is an annual awards scheme organised across the Produce World
Group’s business. There are six categories: Community Impact, Team of the Year, Outstanding Innovation,
Customer First Individual, Customer First Team and Colleague of the Year. The two Customer First Awards
are new for this year. The top award of Colleague of the Year was won by Bartosz Slysz from the company’s
Chatteris site.
Hi- res images available
Produce World Group Website: www.produceworld.co.uk Produce World Group Twitter: @produceworld
About Produce World Group
The Produce World Group grows and supplies quality fresh vegetables. It is the largest supplier in the UK,
providing produce into major retailers, food service and food manufacturing customers. Crops supplied by
the Group include potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, leaks, garlic, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and
Brussels sprouts. As well as conventionally grown vegetables, the Produce World Group is a leader in the
organic category.
The company works with its expert grower partners to grow the widest range of top quality fresh vegetables.
It owns leading organic grower Taylorgrown, and its expert agronomy and procurement team adds value
along the supply chain by working with individual growers, grower cooperatives and joint venture partners.
Crops are washed, graded and packed at Produce World’s sites across the East of England. In addition to its
headquarters in Peterborough, the Group has sites in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.
The company has a values-driven culture which is celebrated every year by its Pride of Produce World
Awards. In addition, these values are manifested through the four pillars of its sustainability programme
4Life. They are Responsible Sourcing, Environmental Stewardship, Workplace Culture, and Community
Impact.
Media Enquiries:
For further information, please contact Peter Crowe on 07967 504034/01733 240491 or email
[email protected]