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Media Release
25 November 2013

Foodstuffs celebrates staff achievement in national certificates & management development

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Emerging leader award winner Nicole Speers-Smith

The annual Foodstuffs Training Awards for the lower North Island were held in Wellington on Saturday 23 November to recognise the achievements of staff involved in the company’s industry-related training programmes. The training programmes and annual awards ceremony reflect Foodstuffs’ commitment as a wholly New Zealand owned business to developing its staff.

During the day 126 industry-recognised national certificates in butchery, bakery, deli, retailing, floristry and management were presented to graduating students.

“We pride ourselves on supplying fresh product to our customers that has been hand prepared in-store from start to finish, so we are pleased to support our staff who make that happen. Giving our people the opportunity to earn trade qualifications and continuously develop their skills as they work enables them to build rewarding careers in their chosen fields,” said Alicia Roberts, Senior Manager Training and Development, Foodstuffs North Island.

As well as the graduation ceremony where staff received national certificates, special awards were presented in the evening to the successful top 25 graduates from across all the training programmes. The recipients received a range of prizes to celebrate their achievements, including iPads, travel vouchers, and training vouchers which provide them with the opportunity to build on their leadership skills by completing further management development programmes.

“Winning the opportunity to participate further in the Foodstuffs Management Programme is something that is highly valued by staff as it can lead to greater career opportunities and potential store ownership,” said Ms Roberts. 

Among the 25 award recipients from around the lower North Island was Nicole Speers-Smith, 26, of Hastings PAK’nSAVE, who is the youngest person ever to receive the Foodstuffs Lower North Island Management Programme Emerging Leader Award. The Butchery Supreme Award also went to its youngest ever recipient, Keegan Smith, 21, of Melody’s New World in Palmerston North.

As well as the benefits for individuals, Foodstuffs sees significant benefits from its investment in staff training and development – there is a strong correlation between high performing stores and their investment in the training and development of their people.

Held at the TSB Arena, the day commenced with a final heat to determine the overall Checker of the Year finalist, followed by the graduation ceremony. The 25 award winners were announced at a formal ceremony in the evening which was hosted by TV3 journalist Samantha Hayes as MC and attended by 450 guests including Foodstuffs management and staff, graduates, and award recipients and their families, and supplier sponsors.

“The Training Awards have become a prestigious annual event for Foodstuffs, and it’s one on the calendar that both staff and owner-operators look forward to, so they can celebrate the success of their people,” said Ms. Roberts.

Also supporting the continuous learning and development of Foodstuffs staff were Gold sponsors Bell Tea & Coffee Company, Goodman Fielder, Hellers Limited, Skills 4 Work, Tegel Foods Ltd and Whitireia New Zealand.

Full list of Foodstuffs Training Awards winners:

·         Management Programme Emerging Leader award	Nicole Speers-Smith from PAK’nSAVE Hastings
·         Supervisory Development Programme Top Student	Craig McDermott from PAK’nSAVE Tamatea
·         Bakery Supreme Award	Amanda Garner from New World Stratford
·         Butchery Supreme Award	Keegan Smith from New World Melody
·         Assessor of the Year	Bradley Parlakchief from New World Wellington City
·         Bakery Level 3 Achievement Award	Diane Wright from New World Pioneer
·         Bakery Level 3 Workshop Award	Caleb Havill from New World Thorndon
·         Butchery Level 4 Workshop Award	William Marston from New World Greenmeadows
·         Butchery Level 4 Achievement Award	Luke Clarke from PAK’nSAVE Palmerston North
·         Customer Service Excellence Award Winner	Gilmar Freire from New World Levin
·         Customer Service Excellence Award Runner-Up	Erna Rogers from New World Newlands
·         Deli Retailing Level 3 Achievement Award	Samantha Morrell from PAK’nSAVE Kapiti
·         Deli Retailing Level 3 Top Student	Dimson Tiburcio from New World Thorndon
·         Floristry Level 4 & Advanced Special Recognition	Rebecca Lee from New World Wellington City
·         Management Programme Achievement Award	Mathew Viner from Foodstuffs Lower North Island
·         Retail Level 2 Top Student	Fallon Atkins from PAK’nSAVE Kapiti
·         Retail Level 2 Achievement Award	Shirley Mejia from New World Waikanae
·         Retail Level 3 Top Student	Kim Haakman from New World Levin
·         Retail Level 3 Achievement Award	Staci Ibell from New World Newlands
·         Supervisory Development Achievement Award	Kirstie McKie from Foodstuffs Lower North Island
·         Supervisory Development Top Student	Craig McDermott from PAK’nSAVE Tamatea
·         Trainer of the Year	Stephanie Saunders from New World Railway Metro
·         Trainer of the Year Runner-Up	Kim Haakman from New World Levin
·         Checker of the Year	Sonita Azizi from New World Island Bay
·         Checker of the Year Runner-Up	Shayla Dodson from PAK’nSAVE Napier

ENDS

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