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Pelican News

November 2011

Blue Skies Newsletter In memory of Joanne

Blue Skies Ghana mourns sad loss of Joanne Aidoo

Blue Skies is in mourning after the sudden and tragic loss of Joanne Aidoo, also known to some by her nickname ‘Zebra’ from the days when Blue Skies Ghana relied heavily on radio communications. Joanne turned 34 only this month and leaves behind a three year old daughter, Andrea Jean. The cause of death is still unclear.

Anthony Pile said: “Joanne joined Blue Skies in 2000 and worked in several places but eventually became a key member of the highly efficient and very able logistics team in Ghana. She was ever the diligent operator who never went home until the job was done or the problem solved; she was a true ‘Blue Skies Person’. I shall personally miss her terribly. Ever cheerful and ready to help, she was a lovely person to work with. She was a private person and much respected by those of us privileged to know her. Her lovely daughter has been robbed of her very loving mother at a tender age and the family will no doubt close ranks to do all it can to fill a space in the child’s life. We remember Joanne for what she was: a beautiful, healthy and principled young woman with a tremendous future and we thank her for helping to forge the culture and spirit that Blue Skies enjoys today. We shall never forget you, Joanne”.

Above: Joanne in the grounds of the blue skies factory

Double audit success again for BS Egypt!

Congratulations to Blue Skies Egypt on yet another successful BRC and IFS audit. There was 1 non-conformance for BRC and 2 deviations (less than non-conformances) for IFS. This is grade A for BRC and 99.7% IFS. The auditor was very experienced with over 400 audits and commented that our factory in Egypt was the best that he had ever seen! He said that such a high score for IFS puts us at risk of a surveillance audit from them to check up on him!

The technical team here deserve many congratulations as normal, but a lot of the actual tasks associated with food safety, legality and quality are performed by production people in Egypt, and the work that they did was also first rate. Agronomy and Maintenance departments had less involvement, but what they did was perfect. Everyone enjoyed great support from the general manager.

An excellent result for our last version 5 audit. We welcome version 6 next year.

Report by Stephan Morris --------------------------------------------

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Albert Heijn prove good sports in Ghana

A very successful visit from Albert Heijn to Blue Skies Ghana concluded with a game of volley ball under the hot Wednesday afternoon sun. Anouk Bels (Category Manager) and Erik Vorenkamp (Lead Category Manager) from Albert Heijn visited Ghana for the first time and were treated to the full Blue Skies experience. The visitors received a tour of the factory, a visit to farms and a trip to a few of the local Foundation projects. On the last day both Anouk and Erik along with Anthony, Guy, Paul and a number of people from the keep fit club had a game of volley ball on the new multi use games area , which was recently completed by the Blue Skies Foundation.

Above: Erik Vorenkamp from Albert Heijn launches an attack on the opposition!

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Ghana shows off new juice advert on trucks

Above: One of our export trucks in Ghana proudly advertising our freshly squeezed juice.

An excellent BSCI result for BS Ghana

Pictured: Allomal the papaya farmer with Samuel the interpreter, Constance the auditor and Mark from Blue Skies at the BSCI smallholders audit.

Ghana have achieved another excellent result for their BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) audit. Both the factory and the farms are audited for compliance to this ethical standard.

Our Ghana factory pioneered ethical employment before most standards were written and this was clear from Constance's "painless" audit. Constance also commented that she had seen many large, city centre businesses with less ethical understanding and poorer records than Allomal who farms in the middle of rural Ghana which can be seen out of his special windows!

This is another great example of the achievements of our Ghana supply chain and all who work within it. --------------------------------------------

South Africa success in ethical audit

Blue Skies South Africa have done it again after they passed their Ethical Audit in flying colours. Many thanks to everyone who contributed towards this excellent result.

By Waydu Matlala, Blue Skies SA

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More books donated for the Foundation

In October four boxes containing books, clothes and teddy bears were sent from the UK to a number of schools in Ghana. The books were donated by Harlestone Primary School, the clothes were donated by a Mum whose child attends the school, and the teddy bears were donated by a friend of Susan who works in the UK office. These items have been donated to Akraman School and could not have come at any better time especially as the school has just opened a new Kindergarten block which was built for them by the Government of Ghana as a result of the Foundation’s support for the Primary School. The Head Master of the school. Mr. Azaglo thanked the people of Blue Skies and its partners in the UK who are concerned about the life of the children of Ghana and are interested in helping them to realise their dreams for the future. He thanked the Blue Skies Foundation for the support that has opened the flood gate for all the help that the school is being blessed. He said these items shall be used to improve the life of the future leaders of the community and Ghana. He was grateful for the clothes and said this alone provides enough Christmas gifts for all the children in the community whose parents may not even be able to provide them with clothes for the season. He used the opportunity to appeal for support to get even just a single computer to help teach ICT in the school. The Kindergarten Head was excited and said these books of poems will go a long way to raise the interest of the kids in reading and reciting of poems.

Report by Alistair Djimatey, Foundation Manager, Blue Skies Ghana

Above: The teachers and pupils at Akraman KG receive their new items -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KVIP project helps village fight cholera

A Foundation project to construct a latrine for a village in Ghana has had a profound impact on the community only a year after the project was completed. According to the Ghana Health Service directorate the provision of the facility has drastically improved health in the area and, most importantly, reduced the annual cholera outbreak of the community to zero. This is a significant outcome for a relatively low budget project. You can find out more in the next edition of Foundation Focus in December.

Anthony to speak at MBA conference

Anthony Pile will be speaking at an MBA Executive Conference at Cranfield University on the 9th of December. Anthony will make a presentation during a session on Corporate Social Responsibility and will talk about the Blue Skies ‘Joint Effort Enterprise’ and how it works as a framework for a sustainable business.

Anthony is pictured above receiving an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University in June. ---------------------------------------------

Baby news!

Congratulations to Richard Asare in Ghana who is now the proud father of a little baby boy named Prince Larbi Asare. Richard is pictured on the right with his wife Rita. --------------------------------------------

Egypt using new mosque

Blue Skies Egypt started using their new mosque this year. Above is a picture of Friday prayers.

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Blue Skies Ghana to launch new labels

Blue Skies Ghana will be launching its new branded labels on freshly squeezed juice products for the Ghana market in the New Year.

The award winning design (pictured on the left) will feature on all three of the company’s juice lines; pineapple juice, tropical juice and pineapple and ginger juice.

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Blue Skies Ghana employee enstooled as traditional Chief

Above: Nana kwasi Amonoh II (Bretuo Adehyehene) swearing the oath of allegiance to Bretuohemaa

In his private life he is known as Rockson Amankwah. The 39 year old mechanical engineer by profession was employed by Blue Skies on the 10

th of

April 2007. On the 28th

of October 2011 he was ‘enstooled’ as “Nana Kwasi Amonoh II ,[Bretuo Adehyehene]”, one of the chiefs of the Aburi Traditional Area. During a ceremony he swore the oath of allegiance to the following chiefs and queen-mothers; -Nana Kumi Asante III [Bretuohene], Nana Esi Oparebea II [Bretuohemaa] -Nana Bredu II [Bretuotuafohene], Nana Fiankobea II, [Bretuo Adehyehemaa] Nana Osei Bonsu I [Nkosohene] all of the Aburi Traditional area in the Eastern region. Chiefs play an important role in Ghanaian society. They have authority over traditional laws and customs and have a great deal of influence in the community and government. Congratulations!!! Nana Kwasi Amonoh II on your enstoolment.

Report by Wisdom Tukpih. Blue Skies Ghana Health and safety officer.

Welcome to Ally Fyvie

A very warm welcome to Ally Fyvie who has joined the UK team as our new NPD coordinator. Ally is fluent in both French and Italian, so will be a real benefit to Blue Skies on the European front. Ally will work alongside Cath who we are delighted has returned to Blue Skies on a part-time basis. Ally said “I’m very happy to be joining Blue Skies and I’m very excited about developing lots of innovative new products for the company” -------------------------------------------

Say hello to Dyson, Dotty and Delilah!

The UK office has taken on three gold fish to look after the office at night and keep staff company during the day. The fish named Dyson, Delilah and Dotty enjoy exploring their tank and watching people peer at them through the glass. -------------------------------------------