The Foodstuffs North Island Excellence Awards were held in Auckland on 14 November. The awards recognise the achievements of staff involved in the company’s apprenticeships, industry-related training and management development, as well as retail competitions such as Baker of the Year and Checkout Operator of the Year.
“As one of New Zealand’s largest organisations employing more than 22,000 people across the North Island, Foodstuffs is proud to provide the opportunity for its people to earn trade and management qualifications, and develop their skills so they can build rewarding careers,” says Mark Daldorf, General Manager, Human Resources, Foodstuffs North Island.
With a record number of participants in this year’s NZQA-accredited in-house butchery and bakery programmes, the awards for Foodstuffs North Island’s top butchery and bakery apprentices were hotly contested.
“People are the backbone of our organisation, and it’s thanks to them that we can provide our customers with top-quality, hand prepared fresh produce, in-store from start to finish by trade-qualified butchers and bakers,” says Daldorf.
Awards were also presented to top students from Foodstuffs’ in-house management development programmes. This included five people who have completed the Trainee Operator Programme, which is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to help make the successful transition to owning and operating a Foodstuffs store.
“There is a strong correlation between high performing stores and their investment in the training and development of their people,” continues Daldorf.
Award recipients received a range of prizes to celebrate their achievements, including training vouchers. These provide the opportunity to further build winners’ skills and careers by completing additional trade training or management development programmes.
“The Excellence Awards have become a prestigious annual event for Foodstuffs, and it’s one on the calendar that we all look forward to, so we can celebrate the success of our people across the North Island,” says Daldorf.
The event at ASB Showgrounds was hosted by Jeremy Corbett and was attended by around 650 guests including Foodstuffs co-operative members, management, award finalists and their families.
The 2015 Excellence Awards winners were:
Baker of the Year Competition, Winner – Ainsley Cole, New World Warkworth
Checkout Operator of the Year Competition, Winner – Kirsten Cooper, PAK’n SAVE New Plymouth
Bakery Apprentice Award, Winner – Kelly Wilde, PAK’n SAVE Ormiston
2015 Foodstuffs North Island Butchery Apprentice of the Year, Winner – Vernon Atutahi, New World Marton
2015 Management Programme Emerging Leader Award, Winner – Cecilia Manese, Four Square Business Manager, Foodstuffs North Island Support Centre
PA Barker Scholarship (valued at $7,000) to continue training and development), Winner – Myleen Yap, New World Mt Maunganui
Co-operative Spirit Award, Winners – Steve Duffield, Four Square Papamoa and Malcolm Boyd, New World Morrinsville for their support as pilot stores for the FSNI SAP rollout.
