Change can be for the better! - October 2011
(Pictured above Judith Craig, CSG’s Premier Food Vending Hostess and Edward Duffy, HR Manager, Spark Response)
Our discussions began in April of this year to become the preferred food vending supplier to Spark Response at their site in Washington, Tyne and Wear. The contact centre and warehouse facilities employ a broad range of staff, with differing food and refreshment requirements. They employ approximately 170 permanent staff, with a further 130 temporary staff employed during the last quarter of each year.
The transfer from a staffed canteen counter service to a fully managed vending service was a cost effective alternative, which maintained previous service levels, but also provided additional opportunities for employees working outside of standard canteen service hours, weekends and those based in the separate warehouse unit.
In the first instance costs savings have been utilised and made available from the transfer to a fully managed vending service, to refurbish and significantly improve the canteen and recreation areas.
The proposed vending offer was to include a wide range of hot and cold drinks, in particular Nescafe Accolade Platinum Quality drinks, as well as a wide range of snacks and confectionery items, including healthy options.
We initially arranged for members of the management team to visit one of our Premier Food Vending sites and see at first hand the quality and range of food which includes a full English Breakfast, Chicken Tikka Masala, Beef and Vegetable Hot Pot, Chilli Con Carne and Rice, Quiche with Wedges and Beans, filled jackets with a variety of hot and cold fillings, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and paninis and much, much more!
The general view was that the choice and quality of food was excellent representing good value for money and would make an ideal staff restaurant replacement at a fraction of the cost.
Wheels were set in motion and a date was agreed for commencement of the new service.
Our vending machines were installed in to their temporary location on Friday 23rd September. During the following week the old kitchen and servery were removed and a new floor was laid. Throughout this time employees still had access to the vending machines and cold food was available via the food merchandiser.
Finally, with walls decorated and new seating in place, everything was in place for the official launch on Monday 3rd October. The full English breakfast was an instant hit and an immediate sell-out along with the breakfast sandwiches.
At lunchtime there was a free sampling session of various products and the overall response was excellent. Everyone was really impressed with the quality and range with one person saying they would ‘happily eat the Chicken Tikka every day!!’
We arranged a programme of promotions and events during launch week including ‘You’re a Winner’ on the Accolade drinks. Selected cups had a winning sticker and a prize of a Free KitKat, with 300 KitKats being given away in the first week courtesy of Nestle!! Other promotions were:
- Half Price Meals
- Meal Deals
- Free Crisps with Selected Sandwiches
- Soup and Sandwich promotion
We are constantly reviewing the range of food for the chilled food vendors to meet the demands of the customers and soliciting feedback from the employees.
Edward Duffy, Human Resources Manager at Spark Response said, “during the period of transfer, including the refurbishment of the canteen CSG have been supportive, helpful and professional and we now look forward to a long term working relationship with their company.”
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