At Westaways we went through a period when we really focused internally on our business. We looked at our procedures and our processes, and it has had a long-term impact on the efficiency of our business.
People who know us know that our company culture is “can do” and confident and we hope it includes an element of charisma (we call this “the magic energy that money cannot buy”).
Covid has affected us all, physically, and mentally. The stress of the unknown has sapped our energy. How can awards help rebuild our mojo?
This week we were delighted to be awarded three gold medals at the UK’s largest Food and Drink Awards. These awards were not for niche products but for were for core lines from the different sectors of our business. We won gold medals for fresh, for frozen and for cooked sausages.
At Westaways we conduct taste panels every week, and we always have a full cooked breakfast on Friday (#Fryupfriday) and we enjoy the sausages and hogs’ pudding that we have made. Recognition from a third party does not just look good on our website, it puts blood back in our veins.
Here are 5 reasons why awards are good for your business.
- Credibility
It is a third-party seal of approval; it shows quality to potential customers and sends out positive signals to existing customers.
- Bench marking
The process of entering an award forces you to look at your product from a different
perspective. It makes you ensure that your product does offer better value in some way than your competition.
- Employee motivation
Awards recognise the hard work across the company, it is a chance to reflect on a team achievement. They are badges of honour that can be worn with pride.
- Recruiting
We are always looking for new staff to fit in at all levels of our business, (mail me if you want a job!). Awards validate a business; they show that the company does stand out from its competitors. By pitching our company as the best, we can attract new talent to push on further.
- Marketing
Awards provide a chance to push awareness of your brand and its values. It is an opportunity to refresh marketing materials and include the award logo on business cards, website, literature, email, and sales material. Awards celebrate hard work and success and are great PR opportunities. It’s fantastic to be recognised so it’s important to make sure that people know what your business has achieved. Winning a business award can open doors to getting contracts, finding new supply channels, and breaking into new markets.