Glisten appoints SSI as information system partner for future growth

Niche foods manufacturer Glisten plc has chosen SSI to help deliver its ambitious future business plans. Formed less than four years ago, Glisten has already grown its market capitalisation to £40m and is aiming for £100m capitalisation in the next two years. SSI’s TROPOS ERP solution will streamline processes and generate quality information across the Group.

“We wanted a partner who understood the food industry with the right system solution and IT support. Installing this leading edge information strategy will enable us to gain a competitive edge in the market,” says Rob Davies, Glisten’s Finance Director. “

Glisten’s success is based on a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. A series of manufacturer acquisitions has made Glisten a significant supplier of specialist confectionary such as chocolate eggs, toffees, fudge, wine gums and boiled sweets. Customers include high street retailers, major food manufacturers, the food service sector and export markets.

In December 2004, Glisten diversified by acquiring Halo Food Group, a leading manufacturer of own label cereal bars for major brands and multiple retailers, and supplier of ingredients to the food manufacturing industry. Acquiring Halo Food Group more than doubled Glisten’s sales. The Group now employs 700 people across its five manufacturing sites supplying the UK and 23 other countries around the globe.

As the Group has expanded, Glisten’s management required a robust and scalable information strategy to manage reporting and planning needs to meet its future business aspirations. The core business system has to deliver production efficiencies through improved forward planning and scheduling. It has to optimise stock levels and integrate a tight supply chain with third party logistics suppliers. The system also needs to ensure product availability for seasonal markets and excellent service levels for Glisten’s demanding customer set - particularly if the Group is to extend business with distributors and cash-and-carry customers.

SSI’s strong reputation in supporting foods sector companies, led Glisten during 2004 to consider SSI and its TROPOS solution for a serious partnership. Following reference visits and extensive reviews, in July 2005 Glisten purchased a £250,000 core business system from SSI, comprising hardware, software, services and maintenance.

The comprehensive software solution includes TROPOS Food Manufacturing and Supply Chain modules, MS SQL Server database, CODA Financials, TROPOS Application Development and Integration Tools, Microsoft Business Intelligence and Reporting. The hardware consists of HP and Windows application and web servers, inter-site communications links, and RF mobile data collection devices. Services include SSI implementation consultancy, project management, technical and application training, support services and remote managed services for the servers and application software.

“We chose SSI for three main reasons,” says Rob Davies. “We found TROPOS easy to use, and that was critical to introducing a new system across the Group. Secondly, we liked its ability to interpret data and deliver accurate information for our business planning requirements. But we also felt confidence in the SSI team. We need that sound belief in a partner we expect to be supplying new systems to the company in the future.”

SSI’s information management solution will provide an information layer to pull together management data from across the group. TROPOS will then be rolled out across the confectionary companies, as Glisten develops a single view of its business performance.

SSI Managing Director, Trevor Lewis believes that TROPOS is now becoming an ERP solution of choice in the UK foods sector. “Our penetration in this sector is very persuasive for foods manufacturers and suppliers that need the kind of comprehensive solution we can offer. It was clear that Glisten valued the way SSI could demonstrate real experience and knowledge of their business. We are very pleased to be partnering such an exciting player in this sector.”

Photographs available on request

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About SSI
SSI specialises in the implementation and lifecycle support of web-optimised manufacturing and supply chain solutions for highly regulated process industries and ‘lean’ discrete manufacturers.
SSI is the developer of the class-leading TROPOS™ ERP solution, selected by many companies in the food and drink, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and mill based manufacturing sectors. ‘Lean’ discrete manufacturers also benefit from significantly reduced lead times by using the TROPOS demand-pull model.
SSI offers end-to-end supply chain solutions including inventory optimisation, advanced planning, data collection systems and business intelligence solutions.

To complement its application solutions, SSI provides all the services required for lifecycle support with a single point of responsibility: project management, application implementation support, hosted application services, hosted web collaboration, remote managed services, bespoke systems development, systems integration, web development and technical consultancy.
Since 1982, SSI has been providing competitive advantage to a client base operating in the mid market, including small companies and subsidiaries of multinationals and large independent companies: Gala Coffee & Tea, Saxbys, Giles Foods, Allergy Therapeutics, Scottish Blood Transfusion Services, Shell, Adams Pork Products, Brintons Carpets, G&J Greenall, Morganite, Rangemaster, Sundora, Tullis Russell, Turtle Wax and CWV (formerly Vymura). Recent wins include Uniq, Inter Link Foods and Almac Sciences (PDMS).

SSI is part of the AIM-quoted Chelford Group (CHR).
Contact:
Neville Merritt, Sales and Marketing Director, 01256 685296. Neville.Merritt@ssi-world.com

About Glisten
Glisten plc was formed in October 2001 to build a food manufacturing group focusing on niche sectors. The Group’s' shares were admitted to AIM in June 2002 and Glisten made its first acquisition The Glisten Company Limited, since renamed Glisten Confectionery following the integration into Glisten plc.

Glisten Confectionery, based in Blackburn, is a manufacturer of chocolate and sugar based confectionery, edible decorations and confectionery ingredients and serves a wide variety of customers. Products manufactured include chocolate coated raisins, peanuts and brazils, mint imperials, popcorn, mini-eggs, sugar-coated almonds and an assortment of ingredients-oriented products which are sold to major food manufacturers.

In October 2003 Glisten acquired the trade and assets of Sunya from Renshaw Scott Ltd, which were transferred to Glisten in December 2003. Sunya manufactures a range of foiled wrapped chocolate balls and eggs, chocolate buttons and novelty products.

In January 2004 Glisten acquired F.Fravigar Ltd from the Fravigar family. Fravigar manufactures at its base in Skegness, Lincolnshire a wide range of confectionery, including wine gums, fruit pastilles and jelly beans as well as traditional boiled sweets, toffees and fudge for the major multiples and specialist retailers.

In March 2004 Glisten announced the acquisition of certain assets, brand names and recipes from Penguin Confectionery, Carlisle, a division of House of York Limited.

In July 2004 Glisten completed the acquisition of certain assets of House of York, North Shields, a specialist toffee manufacturer. These assets included manufacturing equipment, the 'House of York' confectionery brand, product recipes and order book.

In December 2004 Glisten acquired Halo Food Group, with its two principal businesses - Halo Foods, a major manufacturer of own label cereal bars, and Nimbus Foods, a supplier of ingredients and inclusions to the food manufacturing industry.

The enlarged Group now employs 700 people at five manufacturing sites. It supplies the UK and 23 other countries around the world.
Contact:
Rob Davies
Finance Director
Hill Street
Blackburn
Lancashire
England
BB1 3HG.
Tel: +44 (0) 1254 266 300
Fax: +44 (0) 1254 266 330

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Copyright © 2005 Strategic Systems International Ltd