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President's Message
 Mike Rosenberg
President
Horizon Meat & Seafood, Inc.
One may think that we are merely a meat & seafood company with the best products money can buy. However, by digging a little deeper, you will certainly find out that we are a highly effective, team-spirited organization committed to consistently enhancing its culture by stepping "out of the box" from what you would find at the typical corporation. Like most world-class companies, we aim to take our team to the very top by bringing out the best in them. Our methods of doing so, however, are far from conventional.
By visiting any of our offices, you will immediately sense an electricity in the air that is usually ignited by what some may characterize as bizarre. Although it may be that, it is also fun, exciting, on the edge of the norm and quite different from any other company in the world. Upbeat music is playing in the background, while people are quickly moving about, getting ready to hit the field. The sound of laughter can often be heard, and it becomes clear to the casual observer, that this is a fun place to be.
Sales meetings are held everyday, and the managers' goal is to make them fun, informative and a great team building experience. This is not done in a "lecture" format, but rather by getting everyone involved. Bonus money is generally handed out on Tuesdays in front of co-workers, so that everyone can celebrate each other's successes. With the kind of applause typically heard, you would think that they were watching their own kid at a school play. In addition, offices commonly chant cheers like. "I'm alert, I'm alive and I feel great!!!" If the group is not "pumped up" to the max, we believe they will fail to "pump up" the customer to make a purchase today. All of this is fun, but its objectives can directly be tied to the bottom line of our company.
Contests and company travel programs are another example of how we link increasing sales to having fun. We have established a "Circle of Excellence" campaign that pulls the best of our team together once a year. This year, in January, we played hard on the white sand beaches of Aruba. On another company trip, we found ourselves challenged as a team, fighting the rough rapids on a whitewater-rafting trip. On a more day-to-day basis, certain offices might have a contest called "bobbing for apples". During a sales meeting, apples stuffed with money must be plucked out of a bucket of water using one's teeth! On other days, sales goals are
established and committed to, and if you hit yours, you can throw a pie in the managers' face. Unfortunately, if you happen to miss that all too important goal, you can expect the same from him! Yes, there is no doubt we are on the edge, but as the "jerky boys" would say... "The crowd seems to love it!"
With all of this fun and success, solid lifetime relationships are sure to be established. Our best managers tend to follow up with their sales force by consistently going out in the field with their team members. After all, making money together is fun and really shows an individual that you care
enough to invest your time on their truck helping them make money. As another example of this, new team members periodically get a phone call at home in the evening from their manager. This is done to further establish a bond and give that extra one-on-one coaching not possible during office hours.
Our culture as a company is like the gas in an engine. Without it, the machine will not run. Furthermore, by examining this fuel, you will find it ignites the corporation with hi-octane energy that is fun, exciting, and on the edge in comparison to the many boring companies that exist. All of this boils down to the simple fact, that there is nothing like a solid dose of fun, laughter, and genuine camaraderie to keep teams highly motivated and successful over the long haul. I'm reminded of the words of a famous vaudevillian who when asked the true meaning of life, replied, "a little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down the pants!" |
Horizon Foods
79C Express Street
Plainview, NY 11803
email: info6@horizonfoods.com
Phone: (516) 937-1550
Fax: (516) 932-5581 |
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