Making dynamic changes at Northern Foods: Adjusting HR strategy to face the challenges of a constantly evolving market
| Pages | 16-19 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14754390680000936 |
| Date | 01 November 2006 |
| Published date | 01 November 2006 |
| Author | Norman Pickavance |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
16
16 Volume 6 Issue 1 November/December 2006
NE OF THE UK’s toughest industries, food
manufacturing, currently faces massive
change in the face of increasingly intense
competition. In this environment, how do
you focus on driving the HR agenda forward and
developing talent to lead the industry into a new era?
At Northern Foods, HR is pivotal in shaping the
company’s future as it helps to equip employees with
the right skills to face their new industry environment.
Facing the market challenges
Success in the 1980s and 1990s led to Northern Foods
acquiring a number of businesses, to become one of the
UK’s leading food producers. However, none of these
acquisitions were integrated and by 2002 Northern
Foods had become, in effect, a food conglomerate.
Over the past 10 years, food retailing in the UK has
become more competitive. Consumers want to fill their
supermarket trolleys with quality foods at affordable
prices. The result has been heavy retail competition and
ever increasing pressure on food manufacturers.
Acknowledging the realities of the challenging
market, Pat O’Driscoll was appointed as the new CEO
for Northern Foods in March 2004 tasked with
accelerating the pace of change in the business. Quickly
recognizing both the scope and scale of change
required, O’Driscoll appointed a new HR director
(Norman Pickavance) and the HR function now plays
a central role in enabling change in the business.
O
By Norman Pickavance, Northern Foods
Making dynamic
changes at
Northern Foods
Adjusting HR strategy to face the challenges of a
constantly evolving market
Northern Foods, one of
the UK’s leading food
producers, has recently
led a change program in
the face of the shifting
UK food industry. Here,
Norman Pickavance, its
group HR director,
explains how the
organization’s HR
function has enabled
significant change and
ensured its pivotal role in
reshaping the company’s
future.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
,
,
,
,
MAKING DYNAMIC CHANGES
AT NORTHERN FOODS
SIX WAYS TO LINK TRAINING
WITH BUSINESS
PERFORMANCE
CONNECTING STAFF
RESEARCH WITH COMPANY
SUCCESS
RESTRUCTURING TALENT
SOURCING AT DUPONT
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES AT FUJITSU
SERVICES
,
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