The Foodstuffs South Island Fresh Foods Training Centre opened its doors today, Wednesday the 11th of November, to much anticipation from Foodstuffs staff, Skills4Work and Competenz.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2015-11-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Located on the same site as Trent’s Wholesale on Orbell Street in Christchurch, the new training centre has been purpose built to cater for the needs of the Butchery, Seafood, Deli and Bakery departments across Foodstuffs’ PAK’nSAVE, New World and Raeward Fresh supermarkets.
The centre will be used for both theory and practical workshops for Foodstuffs Butchery and Bakery Apprentices across the South Island; as well being used for sampling, product development, demonstrations and conferences.
Kim DeGarnham, General Manager of Employee and Support Services, Foodstuffs South Island Ltd, says, “The benefits of having our very own state-of-the-art Fresh Foods Training Centre are immense. Our butchery, seafood, bakery and deli staff are a pivotal part of the customer experience in our supermarkets. We regularly receive positive feedback from customers on the quality of their work and products. Whether it’s a delicious bread recipe or the perfect cut of meat, this is the customer experience we aim to deliver every time a customer visits one of our stores. Providing regular training and helping staff work towards qualifications, is rewarding for staff and helps us deliver consistent quality while fostering innovation and improvement.”
The initial concept for a multi-purpose training centre was born in 2009 and its development has been a collaborative effort across the business led by its training team.
“We are focused on innovative investment that delivers growth while serving our customers. The Fresh Foods Training Centre does just this. We’re extremely pleased with the final result,” adds DeGarnham.
The project has also had strong support and guidance from training providers Skills4Work and Competenz to ensure the venue met all Foodstuffs’ requirements.
Tamai Roff, National Operations Manager, Skills4Works, says “Foodstuffs invest heavily in staff training and are focused on building the skills of its people and providing quality learning experiences. Skills4Work is pleased and honored to be associated with Fresh Food Training Centre. Foodstuffs continually demonstrate a commitment to ongoing training, which has been borne out the development of this first class facility. It is fitted with the best equipment and provides a wonderful opportunity for budding butchers and bakers. It is unparalleled in New Zealand.”
The centre opening follows significant investment and development by Foodstuffs South Island in the region in the four years post the Canterbury earthquakes.
This includes the Hornby Ambient Distribution Centre, which opened in 2014, and the four supermarket rebuilds and three new builds that have been completed in Canterbury.
Foodstuffs South Island Ltd
167 Main North Road
Papanui, Private Bag 4705
Christchurch
Phone: +64 3 353 8700
Fax: +64 3 353 8190
www.foodstuffs-si.co.nz
SOURCE: FOODSTUFFS NEW ZEALAND
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