Food Manufacturing, Our Entrepreneurial Spirit

23rd July 2020

Today we asked our Food Manufacturing Sales Director, Mark, how the sector was coping with the recent changes caused by Covid-19.

Mark said “At the commencement of lockdown, consumers were turning to retail for food supplies due to the closures of foodservice outlets. This meant we were then preparing for a large upturn to the manufacturing trades. Instead, we found that many retailers were reducing ranges and taking out some of our key lines of business, quite a tentative time for us in the Food Manufacturing team.

Overtime we realised that people wanted the variety and choice within speciality foods, to replace the eating out experience that was missing.

Covid-19 has presented new challenges in how we do business with our customers to meet their needs. With necessary changes to forecasts, lesser lead times orders and last minute changes prior to delivery, accommodating this has been only manageable, in our view, by working alongside Futura’s outstanding customer service team and our tremendous suppliers exceeding expectations in their flexibility.

We have to think of the big picture, the virus has affected the economy worldwide. Yet I am proud of the entrepreneurial efforts that the team here at Futura have shown, demonstrating that tenacity we are known for and even gaining new business and customers during this time. That together with the dramatic growth of the business over the last 4-5 years, we are certain we will come out of this pandemic stronger.

The Manufacturing team has become much tighter. The closeness developed with daily feedback via video calling, group efforts to research information for customers and increased communication, all of which improved camaraderie and generated increased motivation.

The Nordex Group statement for 2020 is “Bigger, Better and Stronger”.  This Covid-19 experience in Futura has shown us that working together is so important. With the continued effort of a ‘one team’ initiative underway, we will see continually improved processes and better reaction times to all business needs.”