2022 has been another challenging year for all. The on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine situation has caused chaos across every local, national and global supply chain, with raw material price increases and shortages, facility closures and beyond. Yet somehow, businesses and carriers around the world have persevered, and they continue to ship and deliver goods every day. Kersia UK part of the Kersia Group has maintained close relationships and supported our customers across the world.
Despite operating in the difficult economic and pandemic climate, we have seen several strong new business wins further enhancing our position as the market leading provider. We would like to thank them for their confidence and trust in moving to Holchem. We have experienced some significant interest from customers and prospects for our engineering solutions. This has been in areas such as bulk tanks, washdown systems and automated cleaning systems for the food and beverage industry looking to invest in efficient and effective cleaning. We will be offering additional equipment options from 1st January 2023, so please keep an eye out for these on our website, in our equipment brochure or speak to your local Kersia Technical Sales Consultant.
Kersia’s training offering continues to go from strength to strength, especially with regards to interest in our hazard management courses, such as Listeria. During 2022, we also introduced a ‘Level 4 Hygienic Design Lifecyle’ course in response to the launch of BRCv9 in August and a deeper emphasis on improving the hygienic design of food equipment and processing environments. Our first course was well attended, and we will be running additional ones during 2023.
Kersia also commenced development of Gateway 2 at the beginning of the year, and we are currently working towards a 2023 Autumn launch of the system. A considerable amount of research, development and resource has gone into the project, and we know that our customers will love the finished version when it becomes available.
We took a stand at Bev Expo Manchester. The two-day event was attended by companies operating across the beverage industry representing the entire supply chain and the team were able to meet existing and new customers and talk through specific hygiene routines. Holchem also attended the International Cheese & Dairy Awards, met many visitors to chat through the latest hygiene developments and products in the sector. The event attracted an international audience comprising cheese manufacturers and associated industries as well as the public.
We are proud to announce that Kersia UK’s Cath Chapman and her team have completed their challenge to raise vital funds for two charities by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, the climb finally got off the ground on 15th September and Cath, her husband and three colleagues from the food industry completed the challenge over six nights and seven days.
The Food & Drink Careers Passport was launched in 2022 with Nicola Bellamy attending the launch at the Houses of Parliament. The Passport aims to make it easier and faster to find the best candidates for entry-level jobs and other suitable early career roles. Job hunters holding the Passport have made a positive choice to seek a career in food and drink. Kersia UK have been involved and support the development of this initiative.
There are many Kersia employees taking part in the Ashoka program with four based in the UK. They recently took part in a very special three-day ‘Committed & Different’ seminar in France where together with other attendees they were able to learn and create strong relationships essential to building a changemaker culture and community inside. They met with social-entrepreneurs and attended a visit from an agri-entrepreneur and an inclusive company. Both spoke about concrete examples of how to think differently and act for a positive societal impact.
The Kersia UK team wish you all the very best over the Christmas period and for the New Year.
