6 minute read
in business post-lockdown
Jason McGhee, purchasing director Hunt’s Foodservice
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What have been your biggest achievements in work and outside work?
Within work, my achievement would be the progression from inexperienced account manager through to buyer and then to purchasing director. Outside work, becoming Dorset Under 9s Chess Champion back in 1986 still makes me feel proud!
Who has been the biggest inspiration to you?
Over the last 14 years, since I moved from selling to buying, I would have to give credit to Richard Hunt [managing director of Hunt’s Foodservice]. Richard has given me the confidence, freedom and trust to take the purchasing department on the path of my choice. He is always reminding me that standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards and that the worst thing to do is to not make a decision.
What were your ambitions when you were growing up?
Career-wise, I always wanted to be a journalist. English was one of my favoured subjects and writing essays and stories came naturally to me. I carried out two work experiences with local publications but my career path never ended up going in that direction.
What are your interests outside work?
I was always very sporty until about seven years ago when my son Jayden (pictured) was born. Now I enjoy spending my time outside of work enjoying fatherhood and savouring watching him grow up. Live music is still a passion and I normally always have a diary full of gigs to go to, so unfortunately in the current times these are all on hold.
How would you describe your personality and what approach do you take in business (and in life)?
Quiet, patient, loyal and supportive. Within work I try to lead by example, never asking someone to do something I haven’t or wouldn’t do myself. I work with a great team and always encourage them to make decisions, use their initiative and look to progress.
What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
From a work perspective, the combination of COVID-19 and Brexit caused just about as much disruption to supply chains as was possible and is still ongoing now. Experience helped me to make more right decisions than bad ones over the last 12 months, and having the close-knit community of all the buyers from the other Caterforce group members gave me informed and honest opinions to listen to and benefit from.
What is your favourite film, book and song/piece of music?
There are too many films to choose from, but the shortlist would include The Pursuit of Happyness, Back to the Future and Groundhog Day. No specific book is my favourite, but I have everything by Shaun Hutson and Mike Gayle, so any of those. Any hard rock music is fine –I love heavy metal –but specifically Metallica, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses fill my iPod.
If you won a holiday, where would you go and who would you take with you? A nice relaxing family break to New Zealand would be most welcome: touring the islands in a motorhome, enjoying the freedom and seeing the stunning scenery over the course of a month would be a nice reward after the last 12 months of restrictions. CCM
Selling to buying
After finishing A-Levels in Economics and Geography, Jason McGhee began working in the pub trade with Eldridge, Pope & Co while deciding what he wanted to do next. He ended up staying and joined the company’s licensee management scheme. Four years later –in 2000 –he became a sales advisor for a local Alfa Romeo dealership. Then, in 2003, he joined Hunt’s as a territory sales manager. McGhee was asked to cover the buying role for a maternity leave period of six months in 2007 and has been in buying ever since. He was promoted to his current role of purchasing director in 2013.
Nachos & dip snack box for out-of-home sector
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
The Stack Snack Company, available via Simtom Food Products, has launched Ranchito, a Mexican-themed snack box.
Each 250g snack box includes a 100g pack of individually-wrapped nachos with an individually-wrapped 150g dip of choice. Consumers can choose from three Mexican flavoured dips: Mild Salsa, Hot Salsa and Guacamole.
The range is suitable for a glutenfree and vegetarian diet, and the two salsa variants are suitable for vegans.
With food safety and hygiene high on consumers’ agenda, the snack box also includes a hand-sanitising wipe, and the boxes have an antibacterial coating that protects against bacteria and viruses.
To increase visibility in outlets, the snack boxes come in branded shelfready packaging.
Claire Williams, marketing director at Zest Food Partners, says: “Simtom want to support customers with solutions that are right for their business going forward. With the roadmap announced and the foodservice industry getting ready for the reopening, this is the perfect time to launch such an exciting and innovative concept.”
Zest Food Partners (07784) 732756
Refreshed look
The Coca-Cola Company has revealed a new design system for the Coca-Cola range that brings together Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke in an evolution of the ‘One Brand’ strategy that was launched worldwide in 2016.
In addition, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has a new recipe that brings it close to the taste of Coca-Cola.
Supporting the new recipe is a marketing campaign, ‘Best Coke Ever?’. The campaign explores this debate across TV, digital films and out-ofhome, and calls on influencers and consumers alike to join the debate in social media.
Coca-Cola European Partners (0808) 1000 000
Tyson Foods has relaunched protein snack brand Grabits with a new name, new look and new recipe.
Grab It is made with 100% chicken breast pieces and comes in five flavours: Chinese, Nice & Spicy, Original, Mango Habanero and Vindaloo. Each stick has 10g of protein and fewer than 68 calories.
The product is now palm oil free and also has an extended shelf life.
“We believe this is the best tasting meat snack in the market today,” says Felipe Castillo, director of marketing and innovation.
Tyson Foods (01233) 667250
KP Snacks is investing £2.5 million in its core KP brand with the launch of a new campaign, KPow!
The initiative, which runs until December, sees KP Nuts return to TV after a gap of three years. Using animation, the advertising is designed to make the brand more relevant to a younger audience and put KP Nuts at the top of consumers’ minds when they are looking for a daytime snack.
The campaign heroes flavoured nuts and will give KP a presence across all media channels, including TV, video on demand, out of home and social.
KP Snacks (0845) 601 7583
AG Barr plans to be carbon net zero by 2040 –10 years ahead of the UK’s proposed 2050 deadline.
The ‘No Time To Waste’ initiative brings together multiple energy, packaging and waste initiatives aimed at increasing sustainability. The company has also confirmed that Irn-Bru and Rubicon will be in 100% recycled plastic bottles by spring 2022.
As a founder member of Circularity Scotland, the new administrator of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, AG Barr is also committed to creating a truly circular system for drinks containers.
AG Barr (01204) 664200
