2023 a year in review

Its the end of 2023 and so it seems like a good time to take stock. The past 3 years have been somewhat tumultuous with a Pandemic followed quickly by raw material fluctuations caused by the ongoing war in the Ukraine. I have to thank all of our customers for your understanding through the period with the inflation of our prices caused by these factors and all of you have understood this without exception and for that we are grateful.

This year has also had its issues with machinery, especially the wrapping machines. Breakdowns have been uncommonly high and while we have done our best there has still been shortages of parts and engineers to fix them. We will continue to work on our own internal processes where possible to make this better and we have a new (to us) machine coming in the New Year to hopefully alleviate some of those issues. Fingers crossed we can be back to our normal levels of service soon!

We have seen some great product launches this year with some great own label products but also our own Stupidly Sour Jar extensions from the very popular tub range. These are available to buy and have so far gone down extremely well with those taking them.

2024 has big plans with more new lines and growth in our customer base which should see us going from strength to strength. Already planned are some new lines in our Charles Butler range so please do keep a look out on http://www.charles-butler.co.uk and through his social media for information during the year for that.

We have also had some retirements this year of long standing employees, some of which have been with us since they were 16 and have known us growing up as kids and coming around the factory with our Dad and Granddad. Its been sad to see them go and we wish them all the best in their future lives. Life moves forward and new starters are great to have on and we hope we can give them the stability and long employment that those before them have had.

I think the last thing left for me to do is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, thank you for your support in 2023 and wish you all a very prosperous 2024!!

Main Image by svstudioart on Freepik

A Gift For… is launched

In these times of self isolation and worry we have launched www.agiftfor.shop with our products in gift packaging that people can send out to loved ones self isolating or to say thank you to those who have helped in the current crisis.

Along with sending out the nice gifts to people we will also include a note that lets the person know who sent it to them and if that person wants to add more information or a personal note they can add it during the checkout process and we will print that for them on the gift note.

We have also decided that 20% of all sales on the site will be donated to the Sheffield Hospitals Charity which helps support the front line Healthcare professionals as well as Social Care workers. With these professionals putting themselves in a position where they may come into contact with the Corona Virus this is just a small thank you from us and hopefully it can help.

We are very pleased to have this site up and running and we will look to add product as and when we can, we will dispatch as quickly as possible but we will be doing this very much on a skeleton staff so please do bare with us on timings.

Keep well, stay safe and be careful.

The Star Small Business Awards Winner!

I am very proud to announce that we have won the Family Business award at “The Star Small Business Awards 2018” at a ceremony held in Sheffield City Centre on Thursday 19th July.

Managing Director Richard Pitchfork was there to pick up the award at the Virgin Money Lounge and commented “It is a huge honour to be recognised by a panel of judges looking for companies that are really adding to the City and doing the City proud. We are a City of Makers and Innovators from our very beginning and to be recognised as a company that is striving to keep that tradition alive is brilliant for us. We are an old business but we are one that is trying to develop for the next generation and we are pleased that all the efforts we are making are being recognised. There is a long long way to go but we feel as though we are making progress.”

Awards presentation#
Richard Pitchfork being presented with the award by Ashlea McConnell of MK Public Relations

The Star Small Business awards 2018 Finalist!

The Star Business Awards logo_Finalist-01 (002)We are very proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in the last 3 of the Sheffield Star Small Business Awards (Family Business category), the winner being awarded at a ceremony in Sheffield City Centre on Thursday 19th July. This is a huge honour for us and completely unexpected as, unlike many awards, you do not enter yourself but are nominated.

Over the last few years we have been working very hard to develop the company and move it forward for the next generation and the generation after that of our family, as previous generations have done. This also means looking outside our traditional boundaries and our traditional products for new and innovative developments.

We have not only re-invigorated our traditional products with new packaging but also completely re launched our oldest and most traditional brand “Charles Butler” with recipes dating back to his Victorian business. We have also looked to new markets with the Sports Nutrition brand “Sweet Peaks” which also supports many great amateur and semi pro sports teams in the city.

We are very proud of this nomination and see it is a great “nod” that we are moving in the right direction. This is not the end of the development road for us and we are still in the process of developing new, innovative products that will take us forward and grow us within the city and the country so creating jobs and opportunities here in the great City of Sheffield.