PSF Sales and Marketing Sees 'Exciting Times Ahead'
From PSF
Perspective --Premium
Standard Farms has always made the extra effort to satisfy its
customers. Going into the future, the company will place additional
focus on responding to the needs of consumers.
"As
part of our new vision, Premium Standard Farms is moving away from
focusing on manufacturing," said Mike Townsley, Senior Vice President
of Sales and Marketing. "Collaborating with customers and focusing on
their needs are at the heart of our new vision and marketing strategy."
Currently,
58 percent of the company’s sales volume is in the form of basic
products (products that have not been processed in any way to enhance
their value). Over the coming years, the focus will be on moving some
of the volume into production of products that have value added to
them.
The
added value could come in many forms. Case-ready production is one
example of a value added process. Other value-add alternatives are to
increase the volume of enhanced pork and/or marinated products and to
further process products according to the needs of our customers. The
company will increase production of these types of products when
appropriate.
"Premium
Standard Farms must work closely with its customers and develop new
customer relationships," says Mike. "We will also focus on finding ways
to support the customer’s marketing strategies. This will provide them
and us with additional value."
Developing
new products is a major part of the company’s new vision. The focus
will be on developing products that are better or different from
existing products. The marketing and sales team has added two new
positions to aid this process. Mike Rouse is the Director of Business
Development, and Ann Oades is the Director of New Products and
Marketing Services.
 |
| The
Premium Standard Farms Sales and Marketing team is embarking on a new
strategy aimed at increasing collaboration with customers on a regional
basis. From left, Dan Dubbert, Director, Processor Sales; Kent
Pummill, Sales Controller; Mike Townsley, Vice President, Sales and
Marketing; Ann Oades, Director, New Product and Marketing Services;
Doug Miller, National Director, Retail Sales; Frank Wullenwaber,
Northeast Food Service Sales Manager; Eldon Weber, Managing Director,
International Sales; Mike Rouse, Director, Business Development; Joe
Belek, Director, Food Service Sales and Marketing. |
"We
are not wanting to become the largest pork company in the nation," says
Ann. "What we want to do is develop superior branded products at a
premium price." Though Premium Standard Farms has customers across much
of the nation, the focus will be on providing for the needs of
customers on a regional basis.
"Some
of our key employees from throughout the company will be asked to
assist us as we work in alliance with new and existing customers," says
Mike Townsley. "We will see some exciting times in the coming years."
New Program Offers Help for Home Buyers
PSF's
Missouri employees can get more than financial assistance as they look
at making their largest and most important purchase: buying a home.
Following
the announcement of Premium Standard Farms' Employer Assisted Housing
(EAH) program in Missouri, which provides forgivable loans for down
payment and closing cost assistance, a series of homebuyer information
workshops were held in Milan on October 29.
"A
number of plant and farms employees attended to learn the steps in
buying a home from representatives of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage," said
Jason Helton, Community Development Manager. A representative from the
Missouri Housing Development Commission also presented information
about programs available for first-time homebuyers.
To
help those interested in starting the homebuying process, the Wells
Fargo representatives returned to the Missouri Processing Facility on
November 14. They assisted individuals on a personal basis, working
with them to look at their credit history and provide them with a
prequalification for a mortgage. The prequalification gives applicants
an idea of how much money they can borrow in order to purchase a home.
Jason
says the sessions with the Wells Fargo representatives are a way to
equip employees with the right tools. “We want to make sure people
understand the homebuying process so that they make the right decisions
along the way,” says Jason. Additional homebuyer education sessions
will be planned in the future.
The
EAH program provides eligible applicants with either a $2,500 or $5,000
forgivable loan (depending on the purchase price of the home) at 0%
interest to help with down payment and/or closing costs for the
purchase of a home in Sullivan County, Missouri. For each full year a
successful applicant remains employed with Premium Standard Farms,
one-fifth of the loan will be forgiven. After five years, the loan will
be completely forgiven. "We view this as an investment in our people,"
said Jason. "By providing incentives toward homeownership, we enhance
our ability to recruit and retain a valued and experienced work force."
--Cliff Gauldin, Premium Standard Farms