Marton firm rules in final Countdown

The team doing the hard yards in their Lower High St, Marton, factory have had their efforts recognised by one of the country's biggest supermarket chains.

Speirs Foods supplies a wide range of bulk salad items to the Progressive Enterprises supermarket chain which includes the Countdown brand.

The Marton company also provides salad ranges for the opposition Foodstuffs group (New World and Pak'nSave stores).

Speirs' sales and marketing manager Trudy Westwood was at Countdown's annual awards night in Auckland last week to received the trophy for fresh merchandising excellence.

Chris Newton, Speirs Foods' general manager, said the award was a huge honour for everyone at the plant. Mr Newton said it had worked with Countdown to create "new, colourful and fresh salads", delivered, and had its efforts recognised.

After a rigorous voting procedure, the Speirs Foods' product made a shortlist, then beat its challengers in the final judging, done by Countdown's senior staff.

The judges said the Marton team had done "fantastic work".

It was also in line for the supreme award, challenging manufacturing giants Coca-Cola and Heinz-Watties.

"To be up against those big boys says plenty about the staff we've got working here in Marton," Mr Newton said.

The Chronicle will feature the full story and pictures of this Marton processing company punching well above its weight in Saturday's edition.