English Provender Company enjoys 'huge benefits' of Sanderson food ERP system to drive its business
The English Provender Company produces speciality condiments under both its own sub-brand ‘Very Lazy’ (garlic, chilli, ginger and more), and increasingly, for major retailers’ own premium brands.
Here the Finance Director explains how Sanderson food ERP software has supported their business through rapid growth - including the integration of large-scale production of mayonnaise and fillings on its site following the acquisition of Suffolk Foods.
“Sanderson has a great system: I’ve no doubt that it will continue to support this business for many years and I would certainly recommend it to others.”
Integrating different production requirements
EPC's acquisition of Suffolk Foods meant "the business had doubled in size almost overnight, so we knew we needed far better systems.
The operations need unique process flows for many reasons, notably to meet the highest food production standards. Sanderson has really helped us to achieve that."
Instant and accurate stock visibility
“The system gave us instantaneous and accurate stock visibility. We knew exactly where each pallet was, which pallet locations held the oldest stock - the lot control and traceability was fantastic.”
We need to take products from various pallets and build to another pallet. For this the Sanderson software is fantastic. Without its capability, we wouldn’t have been able to integrate the Suffolk Foods business as quickly or as efficiently as we did.”
Enormous difference with reliable production figures
“We saw an enormous difference: we had reliable production figures because the pallets were booked on the Sanderson system straight from production.
Equally, sales orders were being picked with RDT devices. This was all carried out with manual picking sheets previously.”
Significant cost benefits from stock accuracy
“The Sanderson solution gives us incredible benefits in terms of stock accuracy; overnight, we had an almost continuous stock-taking procedure.
This huge benefit has enabled us to cut our stock-taking exercise from monthly to quarterly – and I fully expect this to drop further to half-yearly.
There are significant cost savings in that benefit alone."
Consolidated picking routines increase efficiency
“With the Sanderson ERP system, we have consolidated picking routines to pick in bulk and issue that to production. It is much more accurate and far more efficient.”
"Warehouse staff all welcomed it: it gave them order and control where previously little existed.”
Reduce stock turns; precise specifications for raw materials
“The system's MRP functions have helped us to reduce stock turns. This also gives our technical people the precise specifications for raw materials.”
Easy analysis of forecasts and production plans
The system's sales forecasting functions enable the business to export data by customer, by product, by period: “We can manipulate and analyse sales forecasts, production plans and MRP forecasts
A system to drive the business forward
“We have one system; one set of data - and that is the Sanderson Food Manufacturing ERP System. It is driving our business.
As finance director, I have to be confident that there are solid controls within the business – with the Sanderson system that has been accomplished, and more.
I’ve worked with many larger systems in previous companies, but I firmly believe that the Sanderson food industry solution is extremely reliable and robust. For any finance director, that’s what you are looking for.”
Find out more about UnityF8 food software and the food industries it supports.