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Delegation, that’s what you need…

Delegation, that’s what you need…

Posted: 21/02/2012

delegation

“If you want to be the best, if you want to beat the rest, delegation is what you need.” Actually it was dedication that the late Roy Castle used to sing about on Record Breakers - a memory from my childhood. Yes I really am that old. I have adapted the line because I actually believe that both dedication and delegation are both required. Most of those running their own businesses, whether retail or producers in my opinion have the dedication. Let’s face it we wouldn’t do the hours we do unless we were dedicated. But fewer of us are good at delegation!

Delegation is, however, essential if we are to grow our businesses. If every decision has to be either made or ratified by the business owners or directors it has two main effects 1) It stops the middle managers fulfilling their potential and taking ownership and 2) it makes the business owner/director go into burn-out. Both 1) and 2) stunt growth and increase frustration for all concerned. (more…)

Company Culture

Company Culture

Posted: 13/02/2012

company-culture1

I have been thinking this week about Company Culture. I am pleased with the atmosphere and commitment we have at Cotswold Fayre and it has always been my aim to create a culture that is fun to work in rather than simply to make money (and just as well as the latter hasn’t always happened!).

I started to read Richard Branson’s new book over Christmas “Screw Business as Usual” - normal gentle title from him. The main thrust is that those companies that do good and have fun will be the ones that make money. I have always believed in this. Cotswold Fayre was borne out of supporting my own charitable work in South-East London, employed ex-druggies and alkies in its early days and more recently has thoroughly engaged in supporting and working with the Bala Orphanage in Kenya. Whilst we work hard we also have a good laugh whilst we are doing it most of the time with the result that people like working here and our churn is very low. It works and as time goes on and we make more profit we will be more and more engaged in giving it away. I look forward to it! (more…)

I Love Speed-dating

I Love Speed-dating

Posted: 13/02/2012

I am just back from Ireland and still recovering from the splendid Irish hospitality in Dublin. Just as two years ago the Marketplace event in Dublin this week has to go down as one of the best events in the annual food and drink calendar. Around 400 buyers from many countries and 250 + Irish producers makes for a massive number of speed-dating style meetings in one day.

As I said two years ago after the last event, this style of event in my opinion is far more useful than a trade show, and better for business on both sides. This is due to the meetings from the buyer’s perspective being more targeted and from the seller’s perspective they are better able to prepare because they know who is coming to see them. We will do a lot of business out of the meetings we had this week, whereas I am questioning how useful trade shows are any more. Sure we will still attend them, but there are so many these days they are beginning dilute each other, and certainly in the last couple of years, potential customers have seemed more reluctant to travel longer distances to attend. (more…)

Stonewall Kitchen Pancake and Waffle Mix

skt36big11Stonewall Kitchen Blueberry Pancake Mix is loaded with the goodness of Maine wild blueberries and is made from a special blend of ingredients that make light and fluffy pancakes unlike any other pancake mix you may have tried.  This is just one of a range of products that we have brought in from the speciality food experts in the USA - Stonewall Kitchen.  Cotswold Fayre is the sole distributor in the UK of these superb gourmet products and they have been received very well since their launch in 2010.  For more go to www.cotswoldfayre.co.uk and click the manufacturers link on the left hand side - Stonewall Kitchen.

Stonewall Kitchen Pancake and Waffle Mix

CALIFORNIAN DREAM

california-dream

I am writing this just at the end of my trip to the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.  Off to the airport in an hour. My reflections at this point are as much about the lifestyle here as the Fancy Food Show and staying with my brother (who lives here) allowed me to get inside the culture a bit more than merely staying in a hotel.  Incidentally I had a rather bizarre last evening at a quirky comedy gig in Mill Valley, with various stand-up comedians performing  - I had to get some of the jokes translated and Robin Williams was in the tiny audience.  Apparently he sometimes wanders up onto stage and performs ‘off the cuff’.

As with any society it is very polarised between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ and my impression is that the ‘haves’ have a lot more here than they do in the UK.  That said there is a veritable glut of independent food shops here selling high quality products at much higher prices than the UK.  It seems that people here, being far more health conscious, are spending more of their money on what goes into their mouths. (more…)

CALIFORNIAN DREAM

HAPPY NEW YEAR HERE’S TO 2012

happy-new-year

Happy New Year.  A lot to tell you about, so better get going!  What a year 2011 was; I think many of us will be pleased to see the back of it, to be honest.  As I have said here before, it seemed like we were running to stand still for much of the time.  However, we finished the year up 16.5% which was a lot lower than our target, but people tell me we should be happy with that - although generally “people” have lower expectations than me!

One thing is sure, I have never been so tired at Christmas than I was this year - nor have my team!  To get the job done they showed an amazing level of commitment and were often in the office past 7,8 or even 9pm.  A big thanks to them, and it reminds me what a great group of people I have got around me. That’s enough back-slapping!  What I really needed was a break, so booked to go away without the kids for New Year’s weekend.  Unfortunately rushed as we were didn’t check trip advisor before we booked and managed to book what must be one of the worst hotels in England. (more…)

HAPPY NEW YEAR HERE’S TO 2012

Local Shopping in the news

 

As I write this Mary Portas has just announced her plans for regenerating the high street in Great Britain via a 50 page report, which, I hasten to add, I haven’t read!   She acknowledges that the “high street” is at crisis point with shoppers deserting the hub of their community for the out of town retail park.  It is the growth of the latter that has resulted in many of our high street shops closing,leaving hoardings where shop windows should be, which further decreases the attractiveness of the high street to consumers. A vicious circle!
 
However, it does appear that in some parts of the country independent high street retailers are thriving.  I hope so as we supply these as part of our core customer base as well as the “out of town” farm shops and garden centres.  Look at the success of Christmas markets which have regenerated some town centres at this time of year.  And in my home town of Cirencester, (more…)

Local Shopping in the news

All Work, No Play…?

all-work

All Work, No Play….?

Well it is certainly that time of year for us – we have just had our busiest 8 weeks of the year and everything should start to return to sanity soon, just as the retailers start to have their manic time of year. I have been so busy this is my first blog of November, well that will never do, will it?! Or did I hear you breathing a sigh of relief!

The speciality food world is, I think, undergoing something of a transformation at present with a certain degree of re-positioning going on. There is certainly a more hard-nosed approach being taken by certain players, one of whom is telling some of our existing suppliers that they will only continue to sell their products if they stop supplying us. Of course, that isn’t going down too well at all, with the suppliers or us. There is a fine dividing line here. (more…)

All Work, No Play…?

COMPETITION - GOOD OR BAD?

competition

Last weekend I went to Jersey at the invitation of one of our suppliers, La Mare Wine Estate, who make the most fantastic product, Jersey Black Butter, as well as making their own wine and distilling their own brandy! Quite an operation!

Whilst there I took the opportunity of visiting a few customers and a few places that hopefully will be customers. Despite Jersey’s reputation for affluence there was a bit of a feeling of doom and gloom there although it didn’t take long to work out why. Waitrose is relatively new to the island and farm shops and delis were definitely taking a while to get used to their new competitor. Of course, on the mainland, we have been used to this for a while, and I am sure in a short time these places will come fighting back. But they have had things their own way for a while and are currently in the process of re-adjusting. (more…)

COMPETITION - GOOD OR BAD?

TO ANUGA AND BEYOND…

anuga

This time last week I was at what is known as the biggest food show in the world – and certainly if the number of visitors was anything to go by it seemed to live up to its billing. I have never been in a football crowd type jam to get into a food show, and this on a Sunday morning. There were even ticket touts outside the door!

In previous years I have baulked at the idea of a second trip in a year to Cologne (always going to ISM in January) as it is generally an uninspiring and exploitative place, with hotel rates being quadruple the normal simply to fleece those attending the show. However, this year I felt I should go and wasn’t disappointed. I had useful meetings with a number of existing suppliers it was a good use of time, but not only that seeing the innovation in the food sector throughout the world at one event was inspiring. (more…)

TO ANUGA AND BEYOND…

CURRENT TRENDS IN CONFECTIONERY

confectionery

Since my first foray into the confectionery market ten years ago, the sector has changed remarkably, particularly in the UK. There is a huge variety of both sweet and chocolate brands and the market has increased in sophistication beyond belief. The number of artisan chocolate brands, for example in the south of England has gone from one or two to more than ten within the last 10 years. From a country that used to import most of its chocolate products this is encouraging. When I was a kid it had to be Swiss or Belgian chocolate, now it is almost more special to buy a loved one chocolates from the UK.

I remember well my first visit to ISM in Cologne and being amazed at the variety of confectionery on offer from Europe, whilst virtually the only busy stand on the UK Pavilion was one selling bras and knickers made of refreshers! (more…)

CURRENT TRENDS IN CONFECTIONERY