When responding to the business challenges of Covid, what one action taken by the business had the biggest positive impact on it?
We were lucky that we had a [redacted] contract that was due to start just after the 1st lockdown. It was delayed but ready to start [redacted] - it's a major [redacted] deal for us and without it we would have faced collapse. Instead our business will be stronger than ever, so we have been fortunate, but had to take huge risks to keep going, including selling our [redacted] to fund the next step as the banks were not willing.
Starting home deliveries and online sales
the fast implementation of covid safe measures for the business to continue running and our employees to continue working
Improved use of social media, home deliveries
closely watching sales to put efforts into the most popular products
Diversfying the business so we were not reliant on one market
Changing business model from purely retail to also providing home delivery service.
We closed 3 [sites] and reduced our workforce by 50%
Keeping going at full tilt when competitors reduced their service levels
Pivot focus from on trade products to off trade.
Increase in trade, new customers both retail and especially wholesale
We employ only [small number of] members of staff and they all worked at home pre covid, so no great change was necessary.
reconnecting with our customers base, better communication with customers
Our domestic (hospitality) market collapsed, so we sought export opportunities
Building an outside shelter for customers to wait underneath
New staff facilities by installing outside marquee
Starting selling directly to the public when we were previously manufacturing wholesalers only
Choosing not to furlough myself and working unpaid to keep the business alive
Flexibility and creativity of our wonderful staff
Having a clear plan and procedures in place
Informing customers there would be supply chain issues
Quick move to working from home and secure the workforce
Opened an onsite shop and did home deliveries
Government support for closed parts of business due to lockdown etc.
Starting a 'click and collect' service online.
finding a different source of income outside the catering industry
Reduction in travel time improving efficiency. however, this level is not sustainable indefinitely
investing in a new shop layout very quickly so more produce was visible to maximize sales
revision of customer base and profitability and capability of larger orders due to reduced staffing levels for safe working
Improving the website to get more online sales
introducing an email order and collect service
making the business feel covid safe for customers
taking time to strategically plan whilst it was quiet
Getting our webshop up and running [autumn 2020], so that individual customers can now buy online.
To open an online shop selling via the internet
We implemented a pastoral support role for all our staff, helping to manage staff availability and plan for it whilst also ensuring wellbeing of our staff. Also adapting our offering in lockdown 3.
Communicating constantly with our clients, being flexiable.
Speed in organising working from home for staff team.
Repositioning of business to a home delivery service
Throw out the forecast and just respond to demand
Adopting the Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff
Reducing to single shift working 5 days, rather than split shift working 6 days
Flexibility and able to react to any changes at short notice.
Asking team members to job share and become flexible
Adapted and provided what the customer wanted
Protection measures for staff has prevented outbreak on site
A chance to sit back and evaluate the business. Fresh start.
Keeping staff morale high and confidence in company safety procedures.

Looking back at how the business responded to Covid, what would you do differently (if anything)?
Nothing - we just spent the time developing more [sustainable] products, such as [redacted]
Sourced new markets for our products (retail).
We wouldn't have insisted that those unable to work effectively from home, moved to home-working.
Had I known last March/April this was going to last for well over a year, I would seriously have thought about closing down permanently. This has been an absolutely horrendous year with little hope on the horizon.
invested in web commerce earlier and with greater gusto
Not sure as we do not really understand the full impact yet
Put less staff on furlough (i.e. keep them working)
open more sites for online ordering and instore collection
Nothing.. we planned our work /deliveries on a daily
If the length of the effect on the business was known on day one then the team would have been put on furlough, but buildings closed earlier
We bought commodities heavily when prices fell as a result of lockdown - if it happened again I would buy even more heavily when the market was depressed
introduce social distancing measures sooner than we did
Better IT changes earlier on. Increase in pricing and more limited distribution (fewer customers) to serve the ones we had better.
Realise Covid effects could be beneficial long term.
Much greater integration between Group companies to deal with the issues
We should have closed instead of trying to help people
We should have realised sooner that the impact of the closure of hospitality would have as large an effect as it did
Not top up employees furloughed wages after the first lockdown. We thought we could afford it when things seemed to be going better, only to have social distancing cut sales in half for the brief period before we were locked down again. Going forward we will retain our new retail business, largely because if anything similar should happen again we will not have to start from scratch.
Not furloughing the staff for the first 2 weeks
Investigate reliable supply chain earlier
try harder to enter another related sector with our products/service offering
Check stock levels more frequently and ordered earlier
agreements with landlords over lockdowns
We would have looked a making some of our latter changes sooner.
more marketing on the new products we developed to maximise response
more clearly define delivery days / routes
Very difficult as the messages & direction from Government here and in EU changed daily
lay off every single employee and reemploy as part time
Advanced booking to secure third-party services that became restricted
Have sold some animals pre first lockdown
We would not have replenished so many products. Everything has been thrown away
Furlough a few earlier, but make redundant one other.
Managing staff morale and allowing staff to adjust at their own pace
not have furloughed any staff . We lost people because they thought they had a govt paid holiday .
no, we coped the best way that we could with the information available
enforced holiday during 2020 to support staff wellbeing
A lot of things are out of our hands [redacted], just riding it out.
Unfortunately due to lack of government support [redacted] we would have been better of financially making our team redundant and re hiring when we are allowed to re open at full capacity rather than using the furlough scheme as we have for our team. Don't like it but If this happens again in similar circumstances this would have to be the first thing we do
Move product shipped via sea container much earlier
prepared for further lock down and reopening
I'm not sure there is anything that could be done differently
Not to have furloughed staff for a second time - we needed the production
Retail demand and opportunities to grow sales could have been used more to balance loss of food service
Invest in retail deliveries harder and faster and try to maintain that momentum
more advance notice from government would have been helpful
Reduced stock levels in anticipation of drop in demand later in year and early 2021.
Tried to get more from various free online offerings for all staff
Appraise initial market with more candour

At what stage(s) of the food supply chain does the business operate? Please select all that apply. - Other (please tell us) - Text
Function and event catering and catering equipment hire
Hospitality - outside catering for events/weddings
We have three sides of the business [info on sides of business]

Other, please tell us - Text
canned not fresh veg, fish, organic and fairtrade
None of the above are in the traditional sense!
Provide full catering service including food, staff and management for events

Other, please tell us - Text
Increasing amount of domestic UK wholesale market
Due to our enterprise mix, this might look strange...