Long-Serving Veg Packer Clocks Up Five Million Kilos!
News release
25th October 2013
A Boston worker reckons she’s packed over five million kilos of vegetables after clocking up 40 years’ service at leading food company Freshtime.
Sue Betts enjoyed a weekend hotel stay in Lincoln and a celebratory dinner at the White Hart Hotel in Boston as a thank-you from the firm where she’s worked since 1973.
She attended the dinner with seven colleagues who between them have clocked up 132 years of service with the company!
She started at the age of 17 as a pack house worker at Elgro (which subsequently became Freshtime) wrapping cauliflowers, broccoli, leeks and onions on Rochford Tower Lane in the town.
Working conditions were very different in those days: eating sweets and smoking on the production lines was allowed, the packing was done by piecework and Sue’s first weekly pay packet added up to £12!
“I was 17 when I first worked at Elgro and I remember that the three older ladies I worked with were very excited to have me as I was keen and fast and the money we made was shared amongst us all,” said Sue.
“I’ve met some very nice people working here and as a company Freshtime have been very nice to me. On my very first day I met a lady who is still my best friend to this day and I’ve got many happy memories of my time here.”
Later the packhouse at Rochford Tower Lane moved to Kirton and Elgro remained there until it moved to the present site on Marsh Lane in Boston in the 1990s.
“Freshtime has been a big part of my life,” Sue added. “I’ve made many friends here and I’m still making new friends today.
“I’ve got a few years left before I retire so I hope I’ll be working here at Freshtime for a few more years yet!”
Joanna Campling, Head of HR at Freshtime, said: “Dedicating 40 years of your life to one company is a fantastic achievement and we’re all very proud to have Sue still working with us after all these years.
“To mark her long service record and show our appreciation for all her hard work over the years we were only too pleased to treat Sue to a luxury weekend away and pay for a meal for her family and friends.”
Notes to editors:
• Freshtime UK Ltd is a leading supplier of chilled, value added, ready-to-eat salads, snacks, prepared vegetables and sandwich fillers to leading multiple retailers and food service operators.
• Based in Boston, Lincolnshire, in the UK’s fresh produce heartland, the company employs 350 people.
• Freshtime was created in 1993 by farmer co-operative ELGRO (East Lincolnshire Growers), and in 2000 there was a management led buy-out.
• In recent years more than £14 million has been invested in Freshtime’s purpose-built 82,500 square feet site to develop the firm’s production capabilities.
• Freshtime produces over 170 different product lines, from stir fry vegetables to couscous and pasta salads, deli fillers, soups and dips.
• Freshtime was included in The Grocer’s Fast 50 list of growing food businesses in November 2012 and 2013.
• Freshtime has recently had products nominated and winning in the food to go categories of the Q Awards and The Grocer awards, and has won Customer Supplier of the Year for a major multiple retailer.
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry
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