If we don’t stop occasionally and take a look back on where we’ve been, we sometimes forget how far we’ve actually come. For Burlodge Canada and Burlodge USA, 2019 has seen the company make some substantial moves – literally so, in fact. As we wind down the year, I just wanted to share some of the highlights that stand out for me.
Making Moves
As many of you know, we’ve been settling into our new Mississauga/Etobicoke headquarters over the course of the past year. Exciting, exhausting, exhilarating – it’s been all that and more. The team has stepped up to the countless challenges that accompany such transitions and we’ve made significant enhancements to the interior itself. Additional racking in the warehouse, refinishing the showroom floor, new workstations in the office, sound dampening throughout and so on. We always welcome our clients to reserve some time to stop on by and pay us a visit.
Let’s Get Personnel
There’s always a fine balance of putting the right staff in the right places at the right time. Fortunately, we’ve been able to focus on expanding our staff resources, notably for our Operations team in Quebec and our Customer Support services. Slightly more involved is the restructuring of our technical team based on some fresh hires as well as refining our management structure, too.
Preferred Product
Perhaps it’s inadvisable for a person in my position to single out a noteworthy product, given I stand behind every product that Burlodge carries. But okay, personally, I’m partial to the reusable plasticware that we’ve imported from Spain. The supplier has really done their work on this product. Constructed from rotable plastic, it’s beautiful, functional, durable and brings a fresh look to North American trayware. Okay, maybe I’m gushing now, so let me reel it in a bit. But not before I speak about…
Productive Partnerships
It’s worth noting that at Burlodge we really do cherish the partnerships that we’ve established over the years. The collaborative efforts that we put into motion are testament to the healthy business relationships that we always want to cultivate and promote. In mentioning that, I’m especially proud of the work we’ve been able to do with Gordon Food Services (GFS) and United Restaurant Supply, as they distribute some of our trayware products across Canada. We look forward to always building these relationships for the long term.
Growing Stronger in the States
It takes time to expand our reach, especially when it involves gaining a stronger operational foothold in the USA. To date, we’re really starting to see some traction thanks to an ambitious sales team, a number of encouraging clients and a realization that our equipment is perfectly suited for many clients and their room service style of delivery. We’ve witnessed impressive growth in our Veteran’s Affairs business and look for that momentum to continue.
Again, regarding the room service meal delivery, we stand by the effectiveness of using active temperature maintenance for hot and cold foods on one tray. It seems food service staff and patients agree as we’re topping the charts in Press Gainey Surveying. This could be my favourite gift of the season as it goes to the heart of what we’ve been promoting at Burlodge all along: hot food hot and cold food cold means the greater likelihood of patients getting the nutrition they need.
With that, I’ll tidy my cutlery, conclude my look back and refocus my attention on what’s to come in 2020. I look forward to sharing more of what we have in store at Burlodge for you. In the meantime, I’m definitely more interested in sharing time with family, friends, the couch and the dinner table. Here’s to hoping you’re in good company wherever this season finds you. Happy Holidays!
