Coca-Cola boss on overcoming first impressions

In this exclusive interview, operations director Jane Buckley explained how training prior to joining CCEP taught her how to give and receive feedback in a constructive way.

As a result, she was now able to “understand how staff can change their style, or​ give them clarity around what it is we are actually expecting them to do”​.​

Buckley, who has been responsible for overseeing a £14M investment into the site – which produces Glacéau Smartwater and Schweppes Abbey Well – said people tended to find her “a bit strange”​ on first impression.

‘Dispel all of those perceptions’​

However, the training also taught her that the way she conducted herself on a daily basis would “actually dispel all of those perceptions”​.​

“Once people get used to that quirkiness, they learn that I understand people and their mannerisms very well,”​ Buckley said.

“The working culture at Morpeth is very strong. It is an environment that is very challenging but also very rewarding.”​

To read more about how Buckley is overcoming the challenges of installing a new automated water-processing and bottling line at Morpeth – part of our ‘Me and My Factory’ series of profiles – order your copy of the April issue of Food Manufacture magazine​ ​.

Dicksons Pork Butchers​

Meanwhile, the boss of a north-east meat firm is targeting growth through innovation, new product development, improved shelf-life and packaging.

In this exclusive video​, Chris Hayman, md at Dicksons Pork Butchers, claimed a strong focus on new product development – helped by a new area dedicated to product development at the South Shields site – meant the north-east producer was able to meet ever-changing customer demands.

Do you and your factory have a story to tell? If you think you would make a suitable Me and My Factory candidate, Food Manufacture’s associate editor Noli Dinkovski​ would love to hear from you.​