SERVICE
In March 2004. Remo joined Robinson's in 1997 and has contributed to the
expansion of the company's wholesale catering division under the stewardship
of director Tony Fox. John said:
'Remo helped Tony develop the business into a specialist company supplying
the total needs of the Island's caterers. He recognises the values of a
family business and our philosophy that "the customer is always right".
We believe we have attracted the highest calibre team members. Employee
turnover is low and we've been successful in retaining key members of our
middle management, with over 200 years of experience between them. Indeed,
Tony Wilson-Spratt and Noel O'Reilly joined Tony Fox as directors 17 years
ago.' Each division of Robinson's is managed by a specialist, to ensure,
said John, 'we provide a service to our caterers that's second to
none'.
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BUYERS
The delicatessen side of the operation is managed by John's daughter, Janna,
while son-in-law Matty Nelson looks after the newly formed fish department.
John said: 'We're very excited about the possibilities opening up to us
in these two areas. It means, for example, we're able supply caterers with
Manx queenies and kippers 12 months of the year - both fresh in season and
frozen at other times of the year - and on the delicatessen side, we're
sourcing new and often the more unusual items.' Regular visits to Rungis
in Paris ensure Robinson's delicatessen department stocks a broad and ever
expanding selection of produce, ranging from manchego cheese from Spain
to salamis and parma ham from Italy. Janna is also responsible for Robinson's
poultry supply, sourcing speciality produce such as venison, pigeon and
wild boar. |
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DRY GOODS
& FROZEN FOODS
Less exotic but equally essential is the wide range of canned and dry
goods - from tea bags to baked beans - Robinson's supplies to hotels,
restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. At present cakes and pastries
are brought in from the UK although as the business develops there are
plans to incorporate an in-house patisserie at the Ballapaddag headquarters.
John said:
'We work very closely with Ramsey Bakery, and are currently looking at
developing a range of speciality breakfast and other niche-sector bakery
items.' A wide range of frozen food is supplied, stored in Robinson's
large freezer. There are also 10,000 square feet of chill rooms. A fleet
of 14 temperature controlled, split compartment vehicles ensures deliveries
conform to Robinson's and their catering customers' exacting standards.
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Janna
and her burly minders !
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SOMETHING
FISHY GOING ON . .
Phil,
John & Sean from the Chinese & Oriental food department
with Matty and a "friend" from the fish department!
Girl
Racer -Gail (not pictured) was away racing in the NW200!
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| CHINESE
& SPECIALIST FOODS
Three years
ago Robinson's opened their Chinese cash and carry operation at Ballapaddag
- open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday - which now supplies authentic produce
to around 90 per cent of the Island's Chinese, Indian and Turkish outlets.
John Kinley manages this department and said: 'We specialise in supplying
food items not available elsewhere. We carry about 1200 lines in total
and stock goods from leading manufacturers such as Blue Dragon, Daloon
ethnic snacks Rajah, LKK and Patak. 'Our product lines include dim sum,
lychees loong-ang, (dragon fruit), chickens' feet, pak choi, tiger king
prawns, swordfish and shark...We even give out Chinese newspapers for
free.'
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Keith,
Richard and Andy posing whilst Mark,Dave and Jim do the hard work out
on deliveries!
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Geoff,Peter,John,Tony,Gerard,Richard,Daniel,Dave
& Walter
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BUYING
WITH YOUR TASTE IN MIND
Below
, left to right
Remo (delicatessen
& fine foods), Tony (catering products), John ( cabbages and golf
balls), Tony (controlling the credit), Ken(fresh produce)
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Jaime
and Julie
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PREPARED
FOODS
In charge of hot prepared foods is Jaime Boncompte, while Mark McCuan oversees
cold prepared foods. The prepared foods side of the operation began some
six years ago, initially supplying only prepared vegetables, then diversifying
into over 85 product lines. It's a department where some 6,000 packs of
vegetables and more than 3,000 salads - ranging from smoked salmon to lobster,
from tiger king prawn to vegetarian - are prepared and distributed every
week. The foods produced in this department are created by a team of eight
highly qualified chefs, preparing the dishes daily without the use of any
preservatives. The portions are generous and freshly made often created,
sold and consumed within 24 hours. John said: 'We believe no other supermarket
or distributor is able to offer such a service anywhere and we've achieved
this by investing over a quarter of a million pounds in state-of-the-art
equipment.' |
OUR
BRIGADE OF TOP CHEFS PREPARING GARLIC POTATOES
below,
left to right, Mark (commander in chief), Scott, Neil, Eddie, Mike,Peter
& John
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PACKAGING
Robinson's supplies a broad range of specialised packaging for sandwiches,
baguettes and pizzas and other disposable items. 'As the catering side
of the business has developed so significantly, we've always aimed to
give a complete service, not just produce but all other items associated
with the catering industry. And if we don't already stock a product, then
one of our specialists will be engaged to source it, to ensure we deliver
a service that's second to
none.' Our success is built on a goal of offering superb service at the
best prices,' said John.
Robinson's
supplies around 400 catering customers around the Island, delivering by
noon six days a week all orders placed by 8.30am the same day. Key to
maintaining service delivery standards is the telesales department run
by Linda Stanton, whose team aims to combine efficiency with friendliness.
Phone lines are manned from 8am to 5pm six days a week, with order processing
starting at 5am, in addition to which an answer phone service provides
24 hour a day seven days a week cover for customers' orders.
Robinson's
has a base in Skelmersdale where fresh produce can be directed for delivery
to the Island. Deliveries arrive by boat, the first at 7am, the second
at 7pm, and said John: 'We're indebted to the excellent and reliable service
provided by the Steam Packet. The geographical location of the Island
impacts significantly on our being able to provide and maintain the standards
of service we and our customers demand. As our ranges of produce increase,
and customer tastes become more sophisticated, so we must guarantee continuous
supplies of first class produce. Wherever possible, we source our produce
from the producers themselves, major importers and marketing boards and,
most importantly, we purchase large quantities of Manx produce.'
PACKING
IT IN !
Anthony,
Sue, Derek, Julie & Gary
COME
AND SEE US
Nothing
stands still for long at Robinson's,' said John. 'We've recently inaugurated
an 8000 sq. ft extension, and are keen for customers to see for themselves
the extent to which we've become so much more than a fruit and vegetable
supplier, now specialising in fresh fish, prepared vegetables and meals,
frozen, chilled and dry goods, packaging, ethnic and delicatessen produce.'
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RETAIL
Most of the population of the Isle of Man know Robinson's Fresh Foods as
the Island's leading fruit, vegetable and flower retailer. Robinson's run
franchises in Shoprite, the Isle of Man owned and run supermarket chain,
and operate two of their own stores. Produce from all over the world is
shipped onto the Island by 6pm every evening. In the early hours of the
morning our team of
pickers, supervised by Dave Wilson, prepare the shop orders for delivery.
The stores receive their products between 7am and 8am every day, to ensure
customers the finest possible produce, with Tony Horsthuis charged with
ensuring produce reaches all the stores in prime condition.
A walk around the chill rooms and you soon understand the whole world is
represented. The impressive sight of seeing limes from Florida, melons from
Brazil, grapes from Israel, apples from New Zealand and oranges from South
Africa to name but a few, makes your realise the complicated logistics of
running a fresh produce operation in the modern world.
Sean Dorans and his team select and package up to 30,000 units of fruit
and vegetables weekly, often one million pieces of fruit. Most importantly
Ian Baxter maintains the fleet of 26 vehicles and
packing machines that ensure the whole operation runs smoothly.
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THE
PAPERWORK PEOPLE-KEEPING IT ALL IN ORDER BEHIND THE SCENES
below,
left to right, Mick IT and Website), Shirley and Jean (Accounts), Diane
(Marketing), Debbie (Administration) and our newest recruit , Ben!
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THE
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS FLOWER TEAM
Ross,
Michael, Emma & Peter
FLOWERS
Flowers arrive everyday from all over the world, such as spray carnations
from Columbia, gerbera from Israel and tulips from Amsterdam. Holland
is still a major producer in terms of flowers with lilies, freesia and
chrysanths just a few examples of what are available. At our Prospect
Terrace shop under the stewardship of Sue Hills and Carol Kirkham at
Carolines we produce specialist bouquets and arrangements to order.
Emma, Ross and Peter head the team who deliver the flowers all over
the Island usually before 11am on the day they arrive. Their job involves
checking
quality and displays, but most importantly they respond to customer
comments so we can always stay one step ahead of the competition. We
must not forget Joanny and Toni, who pack, arrange and barcode all the
flowers and plants as they arrive. Last but no means least there is
Michael Horsthuis and it is his job to bring it all together.
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THE FUTURE
The future at Robinson's is 'more of the same'. More new products, more
specialist divisions...and more and more customers discovering the wealth
of expertise, professionalism and product knowledge that have seen Robinson's
become the leading wholesaler and retailer of catering goods, delicatessen
items, ambient and frozen foods, fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers in
the Isle of Man. As John said: 'Since its inception over 10 years ago
the catering supply side of our operation has significantly powered the
business forward - a business based on one simple philosophy, quality
and service without question.'
Andy,
Dave, Dave, Neil, Tony & Steve
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ROBINSON'S
FRESH FOODS - BALLAPADDAG FARM
COOIL
ROAD - BRADDAN - ISLE OF MAN
TELEPHONE
01624 690000 (SIX LINES)
Finished
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