Hospitality Malta 06 | Page 17

Pierre Mattocks believes that the best way to combat competition is by “ensuring that schemes that reward clients and partners for their loyalty are in place. Maintaining direct contact is key” photo: an AppleCore Foods End of Season Partners Event Now that AppleCore has firmly established itself within the industry, I bring up the point that an ex- pansion programme was mentioned in a video clip, which was produced for the company’s submission for the 2014 European Business Awards. Was the pene- tration in the retail and restaurant market achieved? Pierre admits that the retail industry has become very complicated and the company’s success in the food service segment has yet to be matched by its re- tail strategies. Pierre was happy to assure us that the company is still achieving strong growth. And there are further projects being developed so as to further nurture this sector. In the same interview, it is cited that products are of optimal levels at all times. How is consistent quality achieved? Pierre reaffirms that their suppliers have top notch production and service certification. This is coupled with the fact that AppleCore is ISO 9001 certified, so compliance with industry best practices guarantees that. TECHNOLOGY Technology, nowadays, is an integral part of an or- ganisation’s success. In order to represent and dis- tribute the brands in an efficient and cost-effective HOSPITALITY MALTA manner, substantial investment in technology is re- quired. I prod Pierre to learn more about the invest- ments required to run such an operation. His hon- est reply is that he is not IT savvy. He is as fully aware that their IT infrastructure is a god send as he is of the complexities involved in properly maintaining it, but the end result is a positive experience all around. Pierre leaves the decisions in the hands of his experts as long as the technology selected aids clients’ expe- rience, provides internal analysis, enhances custom- er relationships and ensures compliant and real-time information updating. In order to build a strong brand, we invest in employees who are truly engaged, connected and committed. We believe that employees are motivated by intrinsic factors like personal growth, working for a common purpose and being part of a bigger team Issue 06 15