A massive congratulations (and thanks) to our northernmost Scottish Sales Manager Ross Howie on achieving his 30-year service milestone!
Ross has seen many changes and improvements in the industry and at Henry Colbeck over those years. Ross remembers when we didn’t sell any frozen foods and hardly any drinks – but we did sell original newspaper to wrap food in. Up north, some customers still sold their small haddock with the tails and skin still on the fillet (tails being handy to hold when you dipped the fish in the batter and into the pan) – and frozen-at-sea fish wasn’t on the agenda. Menus have really grown and standards are higher than ever, Ross has confirmed.
Back in the day, the back of our trucks had the marketing strapline ‘You’re following the Fryers Fat Friend’ on, and now we proudly say ‘More Than Just A Supplier!’. Ross recently mentioned the Fat Fryers Friend is still alive and well, with an old Henry Colbeck curtainsider truck permanently grounded in a field on the way to Skye that’s living out a second life keeping a flock of sheep well protected from the weather.
Ross has seen many new customers joining the industry over the years, but there are still many family businesses that continue to go from strength to strength, such as Smiffy’s & Harkai’s. Ross has cemented excellent relationships with his customers and is proud of achieving his sales and tonnage targets, which have grown over the years with the expansion of the range of products we sell and our customers’ diversification.
Ross remembers his first day heading away north for the week with our now retired Scottish Sales Director Dave Murdoch, leaving his wife Alison in tears at his going away. A customer Don from La Mirage was delighted that Ross had joined the company because he was convinced that Dave had been up to shenanigans… ‘I only want 1 washing up liquid or bleach but he always sends me a case of 4!’. Dave’s sales technique of selling by the case meant less work for the warehouse to do breaking down the case and less room for damages to happen – and it was good for sales too.
On his first visit, a customer asked Ross how long he thought he’d ‘last’ in the job as his predecessor only lasted 6 months… 360 months later, Ross can safely say he’s cracked the ‘lasting’ thing good and proper – and there’s still more to come!
Thanks, Ross, for everything you’ve done for your customers and the company.
