trade

Introduction & Company Background

Pasta Reale is an expanding £40m business, operating from 3 modern production units [and one logistics facility] based in Southern England. Privately owned, it is efficiently managed through a Board of experienced professional managers possessing wide industry production, operation, marketing and logistics experience generally gained in major international companies.

This profitable food business is focused on the supply of both branded and own label fresh, high quality food products, supplied to the retail food service and export food markets. It also has an ability to produce quality shelf stable products which are ideally suited for export markets.

The business is financially secure and has capacity for further growth as a result of its R&D, organic expansion, acquisition capability and customer expansion, achieved through strong trade marketing and close relationships, underpinned by a very focused service ethic.

Production Competencies

All sites are operate to the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness and incorporate the best practices, including an active HACCP programme rigorously enforced. As part of the control process all sites are audited annually by customers and its internal technical team and by external auditors to BRC V5 standard where all sites have achieved “A” (the highest) level of accreditation during 2009.

The Company supplies a high proportion of its volume to retailers and other customers which is then subsequently sold under their own or private label branding. In order to perform this efficiently and effectively the company has a trained team of experienced Product Development Chefs, a highly experienced Sales & Marketing team capable of managing categories with and on behalf of customers, a competent logistics operation able to receive, consolidate and despatch nationally and internationally, and a very high customer service ethic pervades the business.

Chilled Production

All products follow the same rigorous testing and development stages. All sites are designed for the production of high quality chilled or fresh products, many of which can be further processed to produce a self-stable, high quality, extremely tasty and versatile presentation.

Ambient Production [minimally further processed to extend product life]

Ambient production benefits from its close association with our chilled operation, where high quality products are further processed to extend shelf life safely. Typical shelf life is 12 months from date of packaging and the company is used to shipping across the EU or further afield.

Exports

Our Fresh or chilled product exports are generally limited by distance due to the restricted life of the fresh product. However, the addition of ambient production capability has enabled us to extend the boundaries of our business and the Company now trades throughout the EU and further afield into the Middle East and Far East, generally through trading partners and/or agents.

Food Service

The Company operates a local van distribution service in the London area and serves the food service industry either direct as multiple sections or via the distributive or wholesale trade. As with the retail markets, products are often designed in conjunction with customers to fulfil a particular requirement. Our chefs are used to working closely with their counterparts in food service organisations and there is a thriving business-to-business operation where the Company supplies finished product to be used as an ingredient in the manufacture of a final product, e.g. a ready meal supplied to a multiple retailer or food service customer.

New Product Development

Each site has its own R&D capability, its own test kitchen and fully trained chefs and assistants, well used and experienced in the development of products to meet specific needs or against a brief or as part of the Company’s branded development and innovation programmes. The teams will be delighted to explore opportunities with you and will be prepared to assist in both the development of the brief and a concept as required.

Trade Associations

The company is an active member of the Chilled Food Association, a member of SEDEX which assists in the control and dissemination of information on its HR polices and practices. It is also a member of Leatherhead Food Research Association and the Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA).

Policies – A selection

1. Environmental

Pasta Reale recognises and accepts responsibility, as far as is reasonably practical, for the environmental responsibilities of Pasta Reale whilst trading. This includes both the working environments of the company, as well as its own impact on the environment by its trading procedures.

2. Ethical Trading

Pasta Reale recognises that its commercial activities impact on stakeholders – those who are affected directly or indirectly by its activities.

Pasta Reale is committed to follow and implement the principles of the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code and to act in an ethical manner above and beyond basic legal requirements.

3. Personnel

Equal Opportunities

Pasta Reale is committed to ensure that no job applicant or employee received less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, race, disability belief, religion or age or is disadvantaged by conditions, requirements or practices which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Sedex

Pasta Reale is pleased to be a member of SEDEX, which assists the Company’s management of employment standards.

Recruitment

To fulfil the current and future needs of the business, the Company’s policy is to recruit and select applicants from both internal and external sources in line with the Company’ Equal Opportunity Policy. Pasta Reale will adhere to prevailing legislation and will ensure that all applicants have the correct documentation supporting their eligibility to work in the UK.