TEPS, a Hull and Yorkshire-based family-run Haulage, Storage, and Distribution company, is excited to announce the construction of a new warehouse and office. As part of the sixth generation John Good Group, TEPS is reinforcing its commitment to adapt and grow in response to market needs, which is being a strategic supply chain & logistics partner in the Hull and Yorkshire region. The new development will feature a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft warehouse, capable of housing 5,000 pallets, alongside a 1,900 sq. ft office block. This expansion will not only increase TEPS's capacity to nearly 200,000 sq. ft but also enhance its operational efficiency. The new warehouse will create new roles and opportunities within the local area to be recruited for in 2024. In line with TEPS’s dedication to sustainability, the construction of their new warehouse and offices will repurpose materials from other locations within the group, helping to minimise the build’s environmental impact. This eco-conscious approach, reflecting the company's commitment to the planet, complements the recent achievement of operational carbon neutrality by TEPS and John Good Group. This integration of sustainable practices, including the implementation of solar energy, highlights the company's balanced approach to growth and environmental responsibility. Managing Director of TEPS, Paul Fordon, comments, “This expansion is a significant milestone for TEPS. By constructing this new warehouse and office space, we are not just scaling our operations but also reaffirming our dedication to our clients and the environment. The integration of the new offices within the warehouse facility is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence.” Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, adds, “I’m delighted we were able to give the green light for TEPS on this multi-million-pound investment into the site. It’s a real vote of confidence in Paul and the team, who consistently deliver a service that makes them a standout operator in the region. I’m also pleased we were able to include a new office block in the development." "Our people make the difference in our business, and to give them a new home with far superior facilities will help us retain and attract talent for years to come.” Scheduled for completion in Spring 2024, this new facility is set to be a major milestone in TEPS’s growth strategy, solidifying its position as a leader in the warehousing, storage, and distribution sector. This development is not just a response to growing demand but also a proactive step towards a more efficient, sustainable future in logistics.

One of the oldest and most historic horse shows in the world has a new sponsor – with the world’s oldest equine insurer, Agria, taking the title sponsorship of both the Royal International Horse Show and the Nations Cup of Great Britain. Agria, the company behind the UK’s only lifetime equine insurance policies, joined Hickstead’s stable of sponsors in 2023, taking naming rights on several major international showjumping classes as well as being the sponsor of Ring Five. This new deal marks a significant increase in their support of the All England Jumping Course, with the company now becoming the overall sponsor of Hickstead’s July event as well as its feature competition. The Agria Royal International Horse Show will run from the 23-28 July 2024, with the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain taking place on Friday 26 July. This year will see the 50th running of this historic competition at Hickstead, where British riders will compete as a team against other leading showjumping nations for a prize fund of €200,000, supported partly by Agria’s sponsorship. As well as top class international classes, this show includes championship showing, national showjumping, scurry driving, and arena eventing. “We are enormously grateful to Agria for increasing their support of Hickstead,” said Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn. “Their contribution towards safeguarding the future of equestrian sport in this country cannot be underestimated. It is important for us to partner with sponsors who share our values particularly in respect of horse welfare in top class sport.” Agria UK’s CEO Vicki Wentworth adds: “Agria is thrilled to become title sponsor of this historic show as we continue to spread the word about our game-changing lifetime insurance which has already made such an impact in Britain. Agria’s roots are in Sweden, a nation which is mad about showjumping, and it’s exciting to be so highly involved with the sport in Britain now too.” The Royal International Horse Show was first held in 1907, making it one of the oldest events of its kind in the world. It has been held at a number of venues over the years, before finding a permanent home at Hickstead in 1992. The Nations Cup of Great Britain first took place in 1929, and it has been held at Hickstead since 1971. Agria too has a long history, having been the first company in the world to insure an animal, a horse, in 1890, and is now the largest insurer in Europe. “The past few months have been a period of great change, but it also presents a fabulous new opportunity for us,” said Lizzie. “Agria coming on board as sponsor of the Nations Cup means we can now guarantee this hugely popular and iconic class will remain at Hickstead." "It gives us much more freedom and flexibility, allowing us to take the class in the direction we and our international riders want, following the example of other fantastic independent Nations Cups in venues such as Spruce Meadows and Aachen.” British Chef d’equipe Di Lampard, who led the British team to victory at this summer’s Hickstead Nations Cup, commented: "It's fantastic news to hear that Hickstead has secured a sponsor for the Nations Cup. It's so important for British Showjumping that we have our own Nations Cup competition in this country, as well as having a five-star show to allow some of the top up and coming horses and riders to have their chance to compete on the international stage. Hickstead has always appealed to the animal-loving British public, so Agria seems tailor-made to sponsor this event." Reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher, who was part of the winning Nations Cup team at Hickstead in 2023, added: “The Nations Cup is a very important competition, and growing up it was one of those classes that I always dreamt of being able to take part in." "There's a lot of history surrounding the Royal International and the Nations Cup as a whole, so for Agria to be able to step in and secure the future of this event is great news for Hickstead, the sport of showjumping, and for us as a country.” In addition to this new deal, Agria will continue to support the Derby Trial, the Hunter Championship and the Coloured Horse Ridden Championship at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting in June, as well as having the naming rights for Ring Five throughout the season. Tickets for the Agria Royal International Horse Show are available from www.hickstead.co.uk . Photo Credit: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography

Kevin Souster has been appointed as head of service at Hendy Group and joins the senior leadership team at the automotive group. Kevin joins Hendy after working at the Renault Group for the last 16 years having held various roles in both sales and aftersales, most recently as its head of network, aftersales. His whole career has been in motoring having started as an apprentice technician, spending time working as a technical training consultant for both the Volkswagen Group and Volvo prior to joining Renault. In his new role, Kevin will be working closely with Pete Walker, director service and body shop on implementing the group’s service strategy. “Kevin has an incredible breadth of experience working in aftersales and having known Kevin for a number of years in his time at Renault we knew that he was the right person to join us in this role,” said Pete. “Kevin will be working across the group, with the divisional performance manager and the senior leadership team as Hendy continues to expand.” As head of service Kevin will be focusing on the commercial results of the division together with the customer experience. “These are totally interlinked, and I’ll be working with the teams for the long-term benefit of both our customers and the business,” said Kevin. He said the group’s progressive thinking and ambitions for continued growth were a key attraction in making the move. “I’ve known the team at Hendy for some time and this was such a good opportunity for me to take on a new challenge and work with some incredible people,” added Kevin.

French pâtissier Tipiak has launched its stunning heart-shaped macarons range into the UK food service sector ahead of Valentine’s Day. Available exclusively via frozen food distributor Central Foods, the heart-shaped macarons selection features ten strawberry and ten chocolate pieces. And just like Tipiak’s other authentic ‘thaw and serve’ macarons, they are produced in a certified gluten-free area to a traditional French recipe. Marie-Emmanuelle Chessé, international development project manager at Tipiak, said: “We are delighted to be launching our eye-catching Tipiak heart-shaped macarons for food service customers in the UK. Macarons are one of the most treasured French desserts in the world and these heart-shaped versions are especially appealing." “Made in France, they are unique to the UK frozen food service sector and can be served in a whole host of ways to brighten up and romanticise desserts, cakes, and beverage menus. Simply thaw and serve, et voilà!” Tipiak’s heart-shaped ‘thaw and serve’ macarons are perfect for Valentine’s Day but are also ideal throughout the year for weddings, afternoon teas, as accompaniments to tea and coffee, and for birthdays. They can also be used to decorate cakes or as toppings for shakes and smoothies – bringing a romantic touch to sweet treats. Made using natural colours from quality ingredients such as beetroot and dark chocolate, each 15g macaron contains just 67 calories. The heart-shaped macarons take two hours to defrost in the fridge, plus a further 15 minutes at room temperature. Keep chilled and consume within 24 hours. The new heart-shaped macarons join Tipiak’s classic French macarons and French pop macaron fruits selections which are already available to the UK food service sector via key wholesalers. For more information visit www.tipiakfoodservice.co.uk

Hill Cross Furniture, the family-owned contract furniture supplier, has announced strategic leadership changes as it prepares for accelerated future growth. The North-Yorkshire based business is also moving to a group model, with expansion into new sectors including residential and luxury lounge furniture on the back of rising client demand. Hill Cross was created 23 years ago to meet a rising need for high-quality contract furniture in the hospitality and healthcare markets. The market-leading business now counts Nando’s, Cote Restaurants, Wagamama, Frankie and Benny’s, Grantley Hall, Alchemist, Las Iguanas, Watches of Switzerland, D&D London, Newcastle United FC, Manchester City FC, Tortilla, The Restaurant Group, Honest Burgers, Shake Shack and Formula One amongst its global client base. Jen Barker, joint business owner with husband Richard Barker, the founder of Hill Cross, will become Group CEO. Steve Dale has been promoted from Commercial Director of Operations to Group Managing Director while. Laura Taylor has been promoted to Group Management Accountant. Matt Waters has been promoted to Head of Finance and HR for Hill Cross Group. In addition to the Group appointments there are several strategic changes within Hill Cross Furniture. Emily Thompson previously Hill Cross Senior Project Coordinator now takes role of Hill Cross Sales Office Manager and Josh Dowson previously Hill Cross Senior Project Coordinator moves to Hill Cross Sales and Product Manager. Jen Barker, Group CEO, Hill Cross Group said: “I’d like to congratulate Steve, Laura and Matt on their promotions. Their experience will be a great asset to Hill Cross as we embark on an ambitious expansion. “Our goal is to deliver beautiful furniture and excellent service across all the sectors we operate. With more than 23 years’ experience, Hill Cross Furniture is the leading supplier of bespoke contract furniture and banquette seating to the hospitality, healthcare, leisure, and workplace sectors. We are well-known for the extensive range of quality furniture supplied alongside our exceptional project management and installation service." "We are experiencing exciting growth which will see us expand into new sectors and now’s the time to make sure we have the right team in place to realise our ambitions." “Our lifeblood remains in contract furniture and these changes and promotions allow us to continue to develop our core business but at the same time give structure for growth and expansion. I’d like to congratulate the team on their promotions. Their experience and expertise will be a great asset as we embark on our ambitious growth strategy in 2024 ”

St Austell’s brewing director, Georgina Young, has been handed not one but two prestigious awards for her continued dedication to the beer industry. Georgina, who joined St Austell Brewery in 2019 after leaving her role as Head Brewer at Fuller’s took away the Brewer of the Year award at this year’s Guild of Beer Writer awards as well as receiving a Lifetime Achievement award at the Brewer’s Congress in October. Georgina was the first up to receive her award for the Brewer of the Year category - she was one of six brewers shortlisted. Georgina commented: “I am absolutely made up by this award. I couldn’t do any of this without my great team and everyone at the brewery. We work for an amazing business.” Georgina’s win was preceded by the Lifetime Achievement award presented to her at the Brewer’s Congress earlier this year. The award recognises a brewer who has shaped the industry, supported others around them and strengthened the UK brewing scene. The award was even more special for Georgina, as it was named in honour of St Austell’s late head brewer, Roger Ryman – Georgina’s good friend and mentor. On receiving her Lifetime Achievement award, Georgina added: “It’s a huge honour to have won the award, and it’s the perfect homage to Roger." “The brewing industry is really special, so it’s wonderful to be recognised. I’ve had huge support during my career, from Fuller’s and John Keeling as well as everyone at St Austell.” Georgina’s passion for brewing started during her student years at King’s College London. She studied biotechnology at undergraduate level, before completing a Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. Georgina’s career began in her hometown of Bristol, at Smiles Brewery, where she learnt from the floor upwards - starting in the lab before progressing to shift brewing. She then moved to Brewing Research International (now Camden BRI) to run the pilot brewing facilities. In 1999, Georgina joined Fuller’s as a production brewer under the wing of brewing director, John Keeling. During her time at Fuller’s she installed a new tank farm to increase fermentation capacity, beers such as Gales HSB and Prize Old Ale, and developed new beers such as Honeydew as well as a selection of seasonals. Following Georgina’s second maternity leave, she took a break from brewing and became a Science teacher at a comprehensive school in Richmond, Surrey where she stayed for four years. It was not long before the draw of Fuller’s brought her back to the Griffin Brewery and in October 2013, Georgina rejoined the company as brewing and packaging manager. When Fuller’s acquired Dark Star brewery she transited the brewing of Hophead pale ale to Chiswick. She was promoted to head brewer in 2017 and was the first woman in Fuller’s history to take on the role. In May 2019, Georgina joined St Austell Family Group as head brewer for Hare Brewery, optimising the new brewing and bottling facilities which had been installed the year before. Fermentation capacity increased to 50K barrels by the end of 2019, with the installation of further kit. Georgina introduced a second shift and went on to install a new kegger and robotic palletiser. Following the untimely passing of her long-time friend Roger Ryman, who had led brewing operations at St Austell since 1999, Georgina was promoted to brewing director in July 2020. She now oversees brewing at both Hare Brewery and St Austell Brewery. Since taking on this enlarged role, she has successfully commissioned a new canning line and launched a new permanent cask beer – Anthem British pale ale. Georgina has been Chairman of the Southern Section of the IBD, is currently a Director at Cask Marque and a member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers.

More than two thousand revelers from across Cornwall and beyond descended on St Austell Brewery for its popular Celtic Beer Festival last weekend. The day-long festival sees the Victorian cellars of the brewery transformed into a packed venue with five bars featuring more than 100 beers and complete with live music. A huge £20,000 was raised for charity through the event – which is more than a 50% uplift in fundraising efforts compared to 2019. Despite being four years since the last event owing to the pandemic, the thirst for endless beer and a good sing along with the Fisherman’s Friends was still top priority for those who joined. Beer from more than 50 breweries was donated to the festival, with all profits from ticket sales going to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust, which supports local charities and worthy causes across the South West. The trust recently celebrated raising a landmark £1 million since it was established in 2003 - previous fundraising events have included a trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, raffles, ale tastings and quizzes, but the annual Celtic Beer Festival remains the trust’s flagship fundraising activity. Punters queued around the brewery to get into the popular event and grab one of the many thousands of pints pulled throughout the day. Georgina Young, brewing director at St Austell Brewery said: “The 22nd Celtic Beer Festival surpassed all our expectations. It was a huge team effort to prepare and run the event and I thank everyone in the company for their support." “The array of 112 different beers from us and our other brewing friends across the country were really well received. I’m very proud of our brewing teams in St Austell and at Hare Brewery – our second production site in Warmley - who created a wide spread of beers including a cherry Rauchbier, a mango weizen, a mild and a wee heavy! All of which were excellent.”

Exclusive Collection is raising the profile of ladies’ golf after welcoming golf influencer Lauren Prince as the face of its women’s golf offering for 2024, in a partnership that aims to boost female participation in the sport. Prince, whose Instagram page ‘ @guiltyofgolf ’ has inspired thousands of female golfers since launching in 2020, will bring her distinctive style to the Exclusive Collection’s acclaimed portfolio of venues – including The Manor House Golf Club in Wiltshire, where you can experience golf on another level. Both parties have finalised a 12-month agreement that will see regular content from Exclusive Collection venues broadcast to Prince’s growing Instagram following, while the 33-year-old will also be a welcome addition to several of The Manor House’s key tournaments and functions throughout the year. In addition, Prince’s duties as ambassador will see her heavily involved in multiple new events specifically geared towards getting more women into golf, with more details to be announced in the coming months. Since her first Instagram post during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, Prince’s passion for golf has translated into content which has earned the support of thousands of followers. Over the last three years, her content – which often pulls back the curtain on the ins and outs of being a woman in a male-dominated sport – has taken her across the UK and beyond. Prince said: “I’m very excited to be working with Exclusive Collection. Growing women’s golf is something I have been passionate about for a long time, and it’s clear that we share the same vision for getting as many women involved with this fantastic sport as possible." “Living in Bath, I’ve known The Manor House for many years and been aware of its reputation as an exceptional golf venue. I’m looking forward to getting on the course again, and exploring everything else Exclusive Collection has to offer!” Stephanie Hall, group director of sales and marketing at Exclusive Collection, said: “Lauren is a perfect fit for the Exclusive Collection – we couldn’t ask for anyone better to help us achieve our goals in growing women’s golf." “Her passion for and knowledge of the sport is exemplary, and we can’t wait to see how she brings her trademark style to our venues, particularly at some of The Manor House’s biggest and most competitive events over the next 12 months.” Tucked away in picturesque Cotswold countryside, The Manor House Golf Club has been a firm favourite with golfers since its course opened in 1992. Designed by former golfers and broadcasters Peter Alliss and Clive Clark, the dramatic par-72 layout is renowned for its picturesque scenery and an array of thrilling holes.

Festive treats at Stacey's Bakery have been given a dusting of Christmas magic, as a raft of new sweet and savoury products are set to hit the shelves. The team at the fourth generation family run bakery have now delivered a sweet make-over to some yuletide favourites - including the traditional mince pie. David Stacey, managing director, said: “Christmas is the perfect time for indulging in treats that you may feel are too naughty for the rest of the year. Our new additions are guaranteed to create that extra special taste of luxury that is deserved at Christmas time." Top of the list to tantalise the tastebuds is a deep-filled mince pie with a twist. The traditional staple retains the bakery’s famous sweet pastry, but there’s more of it with an indulgent deep-filled case. Layers are the order of the day, with juicy mincemeat then topped with a truly scrumptious almond sponge replacing the pastry lid. The new, limited edition mince pie is finished off with a sprinkling of flaked almonds and a dusting of icing sugar. Next on the list for those who have been good this year, are Christmas stars. Decadent puff pastry star shapes are topped with vanilla custard and fruity mincemeat, presenting a mouthwatering gift to those with a sweet tooth. If, however, your wish list contains savoury choices, David has the perfect gift for your palate. A new take on the festive sausage roll. He said: “While we usually treat our customers to a festive sausage roll, this year we have tweaked the Christmas savoury. As an extra special gift, this year we’ve piled in the filling within a puff pastry outer.” Stacey’s will be rolling out the new festive range on December 1st. Pop in to one of their stores in Ilkeston, Heanor or Eastwood to try one of the new Christmas treats. For more information, visit www.staceys-bakery.co.uk

Leading glass packaging company, Croxsons, has been instrumental in providing primary packaging for The Shropshire Distillery’s range of premium gins since the distillery's inception in 2018. The Shropshire Distillery, based in Ellesmere, Shropshire, has quickly made a name for itself in the gin market. The distillery launched its flagship Shire Gin in July 2018, which was followed by the introduction of its Spiced Gin and Cherry & Pink Peppercorn Gin. In a significant move at the end of 2021, the distillery’s founders undertook a rebranding exercise to reaffirm the Shropshire Distillery brand and strengthen connections with its audience. This included introducing new bottles and labels and renaming their Shire Gin to The Shropshire Distillery Dry Gin, further cementing their presence in the craft gin market. A recent move to larger premises has extended its services and experiences, which now includes a retail shop on site, refill service and a taphouse. In addition to supplying The Shropshire Distillery with distinctive 70cl bottles, Croxsons also provides the distillery with 5cl bottles and caps for their miniatures, showcasing their ability to cater to diverse packaging needs. Reflecting on the partnership, Emma Glynn from The Shropshire Distillery said: "Working with Croxsons has been a seamless experience since we started trading in 2018. Their attention to detail and commitment to resolving any challenges has ensured a smooth and successful collaboration. We're particularly impressed with the finished product packaging – it's exactly what we envisioned." Croxsons’ CEO, Tim Croxson, added: “The successful collaboration between ourselves and The Shropshire Distillery is a testament to Croxsons’ expertise in providing comprehensive packaging solutions that extend beyond just bottles, encompassing closures and a customer journey of the highest quality. We look forward to being involved in future projects with the distillery as they continue to develop new products.”

Loughborough-based packaging design company, Colton Packaging, has bolstered its ranks with the addition of experienced Key Account Manager, Giorgio Provenzano. The company strengthened its Business Development function earlier in 2023 with the addition of three new Business Development Managers - Laura Kalnina, Hayden Perry and Leigh Booth - while also adding to its administration and logistics teams. Colton’s Director, Duncan Smith, recently identified a need to add further in-house customer service and account management expertise to ensure that customers continue to receive a proactive, solutions-focused service. After a thorough recruitment process, Giorgio was identified as the ideal candidate to support the company’s long-term growth ambitions, having been known to the Colton family for over 20 years. With a career in corrugated packaging spanning over thirty years, Giorgio started out as a Trainee Sales Representative for Rigid Containers before moving into Account Management positions. He joined TRM Packaging in 2003, which was subsequently sold to DS Smith Packaging for whom he managed national key accounts. Embarking on this latest challenge with Colton Packaging marks an exciting new chapter for Giorgio and he can’t wait to get started and bring his many years of expertise to the team. “My career has seen me fulfil a wide range of roles for companies right across the corrugated industry - all with an account management focus,” “I built many long-lasting relationships with my customers and I think that my people skills are one of my greatest strengths. I’m also a real team player, having previously supported colleagues within sales and design with the delivery of bespoke solutions that meet exacting customer requirements,” he adds. “I’m excited to get going with Laura, Duncan and the team at Colton and look forward to embarking on a fresh and exciting challenge at what is a very promising time for the company.” Colton Packaging is an independent, family-run firm, specialising in corrugated cardboard packaging. The company supplies into a range of sectors including manufacturing, e-commerce and food services, delivering in-house design and stock and fill solutions. Established in the 1850’s and owned by the fifth-generation of the Colton family, the business prides itself on its ability to deliver innovative packaging solutions by understanding customer challenges and offering high-quality, cost-effective solutions. Speaking about Giorgio joining the business, Duncan added, “Giorgio is a great addition for us, bringing solution-based selling expertise and an in-depth understanding of corrugated packaging. His experience really can’t be underestimated.” Duncan continues, “It feels like this year has been crucial for us in terms of having the right people in the right strategic positions - and we’re now perfectly placed to go to the next level and enhance our customer offering further as we move into 2024.”

As part of their commitment to continually improving their brands’ ethical and sustainable actions, Pentland Brands is partnering with Segura to map their entire multi-brand, multi-tier supply chain – from the first tier to raw materials – across their global operations.    Segura, the leading software solution for next-generation supply chain transparency and traceability, will also help them to track suppliers’ sustainability progress and measure and manage compliance. The data captured, via the Segura platform, will then help consumers with their buying decisions.  This is a significant move forward in transparency and traceability and is part of the Pentland Brands 100-1-0 sustainability strategy and their commitment to being a positive business for people and planet. Key to this strategy is collating and sharing with their brand teams and suppliers robust environmental and social data; helping to align the entire business behind the100-1-0 goals.   Launched in November 2021 during COP26, the 100-1-0 strategy outlines three key goals to be achieved by their centenary year in 2032; helping 100 million consumers live healthy active, sustainable lives, supporting one million people in communities and reaching net zero. Patrick Wall, Chief Executive officer at Segura, says, “We welcome the partnership with Pentland, a company dedicated to promoting awareness of environmental management and leadership throughout their brands." "We are looking forward to working with them and helping them achieve their goals. We are delighted to welcome the Pentland Brands to the Segura community.”  Sara Brennan, positive business director at Pentland Brands, says, “Our supply chain is complex and, with consumers demanding increased transparency from all businesses, we’re proud to be reaching this milestone with Segura." "Investing in the right sustainability tools is essential to driving towards our 100-1-0 goals. The Segura platform not only meets our needs today but also has the flexibility to help us build transparency and traceability into our business for the long term.”