Hart Worldwide, the largest supplier of apples and pears in the UK and sole supplier to Asda, has won a prestigious award in a survey by The Sunday Times to find the UK’s best companies to work for.
The awards, presented at the Hilton Metropole on March 5, were organised and run by the weekly newspaper and sponsored by the Department for Trade and Industry and The Learning Skills Council.
The survey, which covered 58,000 employees across the UK, was the biggest of its type ever conducted. All UK companies were eligible to enter and an employee survey contributed 80 per cent of the marks towards the overall ranking with the balance coming from an assessment of benefits packages and employment polices.
Hart Worldwide won the Best for Work and Family Award. The company was also nominated for the Best for Wellbeing Award and came eighth overall out of the top 50 companies short-listed in the small and medium sized enterprise Best Company to Work For category.
Sydney Hart established Hart Worldwide in 1977 and the Hart family has been in the fresh produce business for three generations. The firm previously supplied a range of fruit and vegetables but took on the role of sole supplier of topfruit to Asda in 1999.
Management techniques had already evolved rapidly after Sydney Hart’s three sons assumed control of the business in 1996. The next step was to follow Asda’s example and enhance the company’s culture with the adoption of a set of values.
In line with the supermarket chain, staff at Hart Worldwide are known as “colleagues”; they have “listening surveys” and “huddles” to aid internal communication. Etched on all windows in the open-plan office are the company values - integrity, fun, teamwork, care, efficiency and ultimate service and seven out of 10 employees told The Sunday Times that senior managers truly live those values.
On presentation of the award, Daniel Hart, executive chairman of Hart Worldwide, said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of Hart Worldwide and its colleagues. I believe the award is in recognition of our ability to not just set company values but to truly live them.”
Based on these values, Hart Worldwide has been one of the fastest growing produce companies in the UK, with turnover growing nearly threefold over the last five years.
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