Taste of Bath is absolutely delighted to welcome long-standing employee Jo Cox as a new company director as part of an exciting new operational and strategic phase for the business.
In the role of operations director, Jo, pictured, right, now owns 33.33% of the business, while Helen Rich, pictured, left, as founder and managing director, retains 66.67%.
In true Taste of Bath style, the firm worked with three superb Bath businesses to facilitate the new shareholder agreement.
Its accountants Richardson Swift, its independent financial advisors Unividual and law firm Thrings all made it possible for the firm to do this properly – because, as it says, it always does things properly.
This is the next step on the journey to creating The Taste of Group and expanding its award-winning model to multiple cities – and the firm couldn’t be more excited!
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taste of Bath saw unprecedented levels of demand for business gifting as its clients needed to be able to support and reward their employees, build relationships with customers, partners and suppliers, go after new business and more – all without the traditional face-to-face teambuilding, sales and networking they would usually rely on.
In search of a solution, they came to Taste of Bath and, as a result, the business grew by an incredible 70%.
It is now committed to maintaining the same exceptional service at these massively increased volumes, but behind the scenes it really highlighted the business’s growth limitations.
Jo has been leading the Taste of Bath warehouse team since 2017, and during the pandemic she stepped up to take on the role of operations manager.
Post-pandemic, it became evident that to retain the growth and pursue further expansion, the firm needed more people at the leadership level.
Jo is an absolutely vital part of the business, instrumental in delivering on its service standards, customer service ethos and leading the team in alignment with its core values.
Her operational skills have enabled Taste of Bath to outsource its larger packing to a local independent fulfilment company so it can fulfil orders from one to 1,000 hampers.
She has also delivered on automating its courier bookings, developing its inventory management and much more.
The business is now able to deliver high volumes across the UK, with seamless ease.
Taste of Bath MD Helen Rich said: “As a founder, it can be hard to relinquish your role as ‘sole owner’, but Jo has become my right hand, and she embodies all our key values of authenticity, integrity and exceptional customer service.
“I trust Jo with Taste of Bath, our clients, our team and our reputation – you can’t ask for more than that in a business partner.
“Plus, we have a right laugh – whether it’s packing hundreds of hampers before the courier arrives or down at the pub after a long week!”
Although it all starts and ends with truly exceptional food and drink, Taste of Bath isn’t just about that. It’s about the core values it shares with its producers, clients and charity partners.
Helen added: “When our clients use us for business gifting, they’re putting those values into action by supporting local, championing smaller businesses, and contributing to the community – for example, in the last year we have donated close to £5,000 directly to our charity partners Bath Foodbank.
“It’s a virtuous circle that benefits Bath in so many different directions. We might be growing as a business, and we’re incredibly excited to look to the future, but those values will always be a constant for us.”
Jo said: “Working with Helen has always been a full-on experience – there are no half measures. It’s an absolute commitment to our customers and to the highest possible quality of products and service
“We are totally aligned on those values and that’s what really makes our partnership work. The more we grow, the more we can support our producers, clients and charity partners – and that’s what really drives us on.”
