|
|
|
Joanne’s 25-year milestone with firm |
AN ANGUS husband-and-wife team yesterday notched up more than half a century’s combined service with a county firm.
The milestone was marked by Joseph Mitchell (Letham) Ltd, which presented Joanne Grant with flowers and a cash gift for 25 years’ loyalty.
The ceremony comes less than a year after husband Brian, whom she met at work, was honoured for the same length of service with the chicken processing company.
|
|
Working at Mitchell’s has been in the family for years, as Joanne followed her late father, Willie Taylor, into the firm and her sisters, Gwen and Yvonne, once worked alongside her. Joanne, originally of St Andrews and now living in Arbroath, was a child when she moved with her family to a new home a short distance from the factory. She joined the company at 16 and began her working life packing giblets. Now a supervisor, she is involved in the processing of 42,500 chickens a day. She was joined by former colleagues, including Betty Stewart, who retired after more than 30 years, for the ceremony and lunch. Former boss Gordon Mitchell, who appointed Joanne and has now retired, was also there. Mr Mitchell’s son, Steve, managing director of the family firm, praised Joanne for her dedication. “She has a great sense of humour, is a very, very capable person and has been an excellent employee over the years,” he added. |
|
SURPRISE VISIT TO MITCHELLS |
Today 26 January 2005 Mitchells were delighted to receive an unannounced visit from Dr. Mohammed Akram from the Glasgow Board of Mosques accompanied by Professor Dr. Mohammad Bashir Ilyas from the University of Agriculture in Faisalabab, Pakistan.
Dr. Mohammed Akram was fascinated to inspect the halal slaughter facilities and enjoyed a tour of our processing plant. Commenting on his visit Dr. Mohammad Akram said " I am very much on board with the Mitchells. I have never seen such a hygienically sound and efficient process. They must be commended to the Muslim community for providing such high standard Halal processing facilities together with impeccable hygiene and advanced staff skills."
The visit was made complete after enjoying an Indian meal in the boardroom catered for by the Guilistan Restaurant in Broughty Ferry.
|
Pictured in Mitchells boardroom enjoying lunch are (from left and clockwise:
Ali Munsif Mohammed [Dundee Islamic Society] , Stephen Mitchell, Joseph Mitchell, Brian Glennie [factory manager], Mike Mitchell, Dr Mohammed Akram , Prof. Dr. Mohammad Bashir Ilyas.
|
|
CHAMP CHOOSES CHICKEN FROM MITCHELLS |
Among the main requirements of Scotland's champion body-builder Dougie Imrie is a top-quality high protein diet. In the final stages of training to defend his title Dougie will be eating 16 chicken fillets daily, so it's lucky for Fife-based Dougie that Scotland's leading chicken specialists Mitchells of Letham is close at hand.
Mitchells are providing him with all the high quality chicken he needs to help in his bid to retain his title. "To be honest, there is chicken and there is chicken," says Dougie, "but with Mitchells I know that I am eating the highest quality product, all from local farms and as fresh as it can possibly be. I think it is very appropriate that a Scottish champion should train on the finest Scottish product, and I am looking forward to continuing my association with Mitchells in defending my title." Adds group sales director Mike Mitchell: "we are proud to be associated with Dougie's success. With recent expansion at our Letham plant, a growing number of customers throughout the UK can also enjoy our prime Scottish chicken, with guaranteed freshness through next-day deliveries."
|
|
COMPLETED PHASE OF EXPANSION MARKS CENTENARY YEAR
|
The second phase of our major £2m
extension has now been completed. The new state of the art in-line air chilling facility
and four new temperature-controlled loading bays create greater flexibility and efficiency
in despatch and order assembly. Mike Mitchell explains “Our customers will benefit from
faster and more efficient throughput and temperature control integrity throughout the assembly
and loading areas. In addition we are now in a position to handle much larger volumes.”
On hand to carry out the official opening was Angus Provost, Bill Middleton. After being taken on a tour of the new facilities a very impressed Provost Middleton said “The firm has grown threefold in the last five years. You have 145 employees, almost all from the Angus area. This is of tremendous benefit to the Angus economy as a whole. This is a wonderful boost to Angus and I am sure that you will continue to grow and benefit our economy even more.”
Our company helps process nearly 10 million chickens every year from 16 independent suppliers, of which 10 are in Angus. The 10 sites, together contribute almost £5m to the local economy each year.
In addition to the new Letham extension, the firm has plans to expand its Challenger Foods plant in Sunderland.
|
(from left) Michael Mitchell,
councillor David Selfridge, David Valentine, Angus Provost Bill Middleton, Joseph Mitchell,
councillor David Lurngair and Stephen Mitchell.
|
Director Joseph Mitchell added “The new developments at Letham together with the major plans for the Challenger Foods operation, where the final stages of a £1.7m extension is in the last stages of planning, confirms our belief that there is still a flourishing market in the UK for the highest quality chicken products, coupled with a first rate service.”
The opening was reported in at least 4 publications, including Poultry World and the Meat Trades Journal.
Acknowledgements:- Poultry World (July 2004), The Dispatch and Herald (June 10 2004)
|
| SCOT-LAD, THE FASTEST GROWING FOOD COMPANY IN SCOTLAND |
Fastest Growing
Food and Drink Companies |
| Company |
Growth |
| Scot-Lad |
64.6% |
| Grampian Country Food Group |
41.6% |
| Highland Spring |
28.0% |
| Browns Food Group |
26.2% |
| Pan European Seafoods |
26.2% |
| Baxters Food Group |
25.9% |
| Scot Trout & Salmon |
25.5% |
| Fresh Catch |
25.4% |
| Enterprise Food Group |
22.9% |
| Shetland Catch |
22.6% |
Source: Scottish Food & Drink, figures are year-on-growth, data excludes alcoholic beverage companies |
|
Scot-Lad may not be a well known name, but as the holding company for Mitchells of Letham it is the fastest growing food company in the rankings.
Starting as a Game supplier, we later expanded into chicken, now our core market. Since our acquisition of Challenger Foods in January 2002 we have had a strong performance in the Top 50. We put our success down to keeping our branding and ensuring good quality Scottish produce. |
Sales director Mike Mitchell says: "We are always faced with the threat of cheaper imports, but we challenge this by being able to offer a much quicker supply. We can slaughter a chicken one day and get it to London the next morning, for example, so we can offer fresher product of high quality.
Acknowledgments:
Scotland an editorial supplement to the grocer.
|
|
|
