Pordum Foods

Bon Appétit by Pordum Foods is a 24/7, low cost hot food service delivered through “The Little Tasty Food Outlet”, a state of the art vending concept. It delivers a fully automated vending solution for frozen food products and provides onsite microwaves for immediate heating and consumption.

Initiating this KTP was central to the company’s growth plans, as the company wanted to build upon its existing markets and diversify into new markets, whilst improving the management capability and operational systems to drive and support this.  

Pordum Foods needed expertise from the university in order to fulfil its market development and growth plans. 

• Retail sector marketing skills including structured panel testing, competitor analysis and brand analysis & enhancement.
• Food product engineering and design expertise
• Skills and knowledge relating to alternative business management approaches to support rapid growth across a wide geographical area with a broadening product base.   
• Expertise in shelf life testing certification and environmental control issues.
• Underpinning knowledge of the retail and international vending sectors.

What did the KTP deliver?

• Successful development and expansion of markets
• An increase of £300,000 in sales turnover, with an additional £1.3m anticipated over the following three years
• A structured approach to managing its customer base
• Successful revamp of the company’s food product offering
• Full redevelopment of the packaging format for paninis, baguettes, rolls and pastries
• Revised and refreshed marketing collateral

This is the third KTP involving the School of Service Management and food retail companies, and has really strengthened the institution’s research and expertise in this area.

The university’s teaching portfolio has been enhanced by the inclusion of case study materials in a range of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As a result of this and previous/ongoing KTPs, the university now runs a successful level 5 module titled “Retail Management in Action” which incorporates a number of KTP components. The KTP also resulted in five publications.