Food company gains an appetite for training

Citation

(2011), "Food company gains an appetite for training", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 43 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2011.03743daa.005

Food company gains an appetite for training

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 43, Issue 4

Rieber & Søn, a Norwegian supplier of consumer food products, is to introduce a learning-management system, e-learning courses, Microsoft Office 2007 courses and an employee-induction course.

The company has signed a three-year agreement with e-learning firm Edvantage that will enable Rieber & Søn to provide employees with faster access to skills and knowledge by having one common SAAS (software-as-a-service) learning platform across the organisation. Employees log in to the learning-management system and gain access to courses that help them rapidly to develop a range of skills that are important for day-to-day business. Edvantage will also create a bespoke induction course to help to ensure that new employees are well prepared for their roles in the company.

Nina Skage, Director of Personnel and Organisation Development at Rieber & Søn, explained: “Providing good learning opportunities is essential to building a strong corporate culture where employees are motivated and enthusiastic about developing their skills. It is important to help them to excel in their roles and to help us to excel as a company. We are starting with e-learning because it will enable us to provide more training to more employees more cost-effectively.”

“We are both pleased and proud to sign this contract with Rieber & Søn”, said Thomas Berglund, Edvantage Chief Executive. “Rieber & Søn is an exciting company and we believe strongly that we can support it in its aim to execute its new learning and development strategy.”

Rieber & Søn’s main markets include the Nordic countries and Central and Eastern Europe. The company develops products based on local taste, and helps people to prepare exciting and tasty food in easier ways. Its brands include Toro, Denja, Mr. Lee and Frödinge in Sweden, K-Salat and Bähncke in Denmark, Delecta in Poland, Vitana in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Chaka in Russia.

In a separate development, Sweden’s largest mobile-telephone retailer, The Phone House, has selected the Learning Gateway learning-management system and the CourseBuilder content-authoring tool to develop and deliver on-line sales and product training.

Under an agreement with Edvantage, The Phone House will provide not only traditional training but also e-learning for 400 employees at 112 stores, as well as an additional 400 people in other sales channels. Sales representatives will learn about mobile technologies, product categories and specific products. The training programs are designed to raise performance, improve in-store processes and enhance customer experience.

Companies operating in the fast-changing telecommunications business must develop new technologies, devices, functions and services to stay ahead of their rivals. Manufacturers are continually shipping new mobile-phone products, while mobile network operators continually launch new service offers, adjusting prices to the market. The speed of development puts pressure on retailers like The Phone House, demanding that their sales forces keep up with product knowledge.

“We operate in a very competitive business with complex products. As an independent retailer, our sales colleagues must provide customers with accurate, expert advice and help them to make the right choices. Looking after our customers is a top priority. With Edvantage solutions that provide on-demand access to skills and knowledge, we will leverage our sales force’s capabilities to create a brand-differentiator,” said Teddy Sandberg, Training Manager.

CourseBuilder allows many authors to work on course development simultaneously, enabling mobile-phone manufacturers and service providers to contribute product information and accelerate course development.

The Phone House operates 2,453 stores in nine European countries, principally under the brand names Carphone Warehouse and The Phone House.