Site Technical Manager
ichiban UK is a privately owned sushi manufacturer producing own label and branded sushi for the UK market. They have been one of the UK’s largest sushi producers for almost two decades based in Stowmarket Suffolk.
BRIEF
Ichiban UK requires experienced Site Technical Manager with a proven track record in ensuring a high calibre, quality and food safety culture within high care food manufacturing environments to ensure full compliance to the BRC standard, all retailer manufacturing standards, codes of practice and current industry legislation.
This role forms part of the Senior Leadership Team and reported into the Site Director and was responsible for all Technical, Quality and Hygiene requirements for the site.
This was critical hire, the site produces own label ready to eat sushi products for multiple retail customers, the complexity and speed of the manufacturing process is challenging, therefore it was vital that we source experienced technical leads who have a proven background working within high care/ high risk food manufacturing supplying the major multiple retailers.
THE ALEXANDER STEELE APPROACH
Our business director Giuseppe Leo has worked with the business for 14 years, took the opportunity to visit the site and meet with the Site Director and Head of HR not only to discuss the brief, but to see the progress the site had made since his last visit pre-covid.A critical challenge when recruiting for the business is that most of the food manufacturers in East Anglia are low risk, therefore our approach was to map the market and make targeted approaches to individuals with the required experience in high care/high risk food manufacturing, but more importantly ensuring that our role would further the careers or the individuals we targeted. With the long-standing business relationship, we were best placed to highlight the culture, working environment, challenges and potential for the future to all perspective candidates. Through this approach we presented a high calibre shortlist to the business.
THE OUTCOME
After a successful recruitment process, an offer was accepted, and our preferred candidate commenced their employment in August 2024 and has bought with them a new approach and fresh impetus into the Technical function which has help the wider business deliver their ambitious plans for growth and planned product launches for 2025.