4 minute read
BSA Industry Dinner
On Thursday, 21 October 2021, the British Sandwich & Food to Go Association held a wellattended industry dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
POSITIVE SIGNS
In his introductory, welcome speech, PAPA director, Jim Winship, reminded those present that it had been some 29 months since the industry had last got together for such an event, and that it was great to see so many people in attendance despite the precautions that still exist for such gatherings in some quarters.
“Hopefully we are now emerging to a more normal world, although judging from the continuing crises in staffing, supply chains and energy, it seems the world is far from settled into any sort of normality yet,” said Jim Winship.
“I do, however, remain an optimist, having seen positive signs that this industry will come surging back. Indeed, we were already seeing that.”
Like the industry, the Association had had to weather these difficult times, Jim Winship acknowledged, but it was still here, continuing to represent members’ interests as best it can. He then went on to extend a big thank you to all who had supported the BSA over the last year and a half through sponsorship, membership and other activities, and how without this support the Association could not do the work it does.
WELL EARNED
In his speech, outgoing BSA chair, Dan Silverston, said that it was truly fantastic to see so many present, and how it was May 2019 when last all together as an industry, and how being back together again at the Royal Lancaster felt a real privilege but that it was well earned.
Dan Silverston went on to thank all at the BSA for organising the dinner and say that it was an honour to have Greencore’s Patrick Coveney as the dinner’s guest speaker. In light of the fact that the Royal Lancaster and its staff had put on a fantastic meal, he also made a point of extending thanks to the catering team.
“For many of us, it has been a big challenge to rebuild our teams after a long lay-off, and all the lockdowns. So, when you see your waiter or waitress remember that it’s been a tough eighteen months for them too,” said Dan Silverston.
“It would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Covid 19 and what a torrid 18 months many of us have had to endure. It’s been challenging on so many levels.
“However, the message is clear, we need to start to learn to live with Covid and get our lives, and our businesses, back on track. That is the new challenge, and boy does it feel like a challenge at the moment, but that’s what we need to do.
“One of the damaging after-effects of the pandemic has been the belief that working from home is better for people, making them more productive, but clearly that ignores the mental health challenges facing many, the loss of the team relationship that only occurs when in a workplace, and those blurred lines between work and home.
“Getting back to a work-life balance is as important for our teams and our workforces as it is for the businesses in our sector that rely on workplaces.
“Whilst we’re seeing many signs of things starting to recover, it has come with many challenges. We need to keep adapting as we have done throughout these difficult times. Our industry is now facing the consequences of both Covid and Brexit with massive supply chain challenges and issues, food inflation, and for me, the age of cheap food seems over.
“There’s real skills shortage, and where have all the lorry drivers gone? The list goes on… The Association was warning government long before Covid of severe food shortages. It has also been lobbying the government on allergen labelling in foodservice and environmental issues, and many more things. I can’t remember a time when the food industry was facing such a perfect storm of issues.
“For these reasons, I firmly believe that now is the time when we really do need to stand together and make our voices, and our issues, heard. The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association continues to offer us the means to do this. It can say things that our individual businesses often find difficult to convey. They bring us together at meetings throughout the year, we can network and discuss burning issues and at events like this – and the Sammies – we can really celebrate our amazing industry.
“Whether you are a big company, or small, it does require us to get behind us as an association. So the message is, whether you are a retailer, manufacturer or supplier, to not lose sight of the importance this organisation plays in our business. Without the support of the BSA, we would be weaker than we are now, but thank you for your support and keep in mind this one message - that we really are stronger together.”
SPECIAL GUEST – PATRICK COVENEY
Patrick Coveney, CEO of Greencore for 14 years having been its CFO before that, was the event’s special guest. He thanked all for being in attendance, saying it was a privilege to be able to talk to everyone, also emphasising that he felt that the ‘stronger together’ theme was at the core of what the sandwich and food to go industry is about, before going on to talk about the sector in general and Greencore in particular (turn to page 28 for an article covering Patrick Coveney’s full speech).
