Following the European Referendum of 2016, the UK has hung in a state of uncertainty as British political leaders scramble to deliver a British exit from the European Union that is beneficial for all.
Aptly named Brexit, the current political climate has had a huge effect on all manner of markets, including the catering and foodservice industry. While the outcome of leave vote is set to become clear before the end of November, we at Hupfer have already taken the necessary steps to secure our future in the UK.
As a German-based company, operating out of the city of Coesfeld, Hupfer has built up a strong relationship with the UK foodservice market. With offices throughout Europe, Russia, Dubai and Singapore, the UK base can be found in Knowsley, Merseyside, where our subsidiary company, Trak Systems, are also based.
In the last 12-months, we at Hupfer have realigned our focus on the UK market, placing an increased emphasis on delivering well-thought-out storing and handling solutions to establishments across the nation.
The first step in this process was the rebrand of Trak Systems, previously known as TrakHupfer. The Hupfer name was unaligned with Trak in an effort to better distinguish the two brands, giving the industry a clearer view on how their equipment and offering differs.
Trak are known for their innovative dishwash and tray clearing conveyors, as well as their bespoke counter fabrication for a range of catering environments. This works in cohesion with Hupfer’s kitchen logistics and storage solutions, enabling a clearer line between the two companies.
Following the rebrand and reposition, Trak is now focusing on utilising its over 20 years’ experience to build up its reputation as a small, local manufacturer with a personal touch, but one which is backed up by the expertise and strength of Hupfer.
Hupfer in the UK has also made changes and investments in the UK in recent months, allowing them to develop their offering to the UK market. Back in the summer, Anthony Pettit who has over ten years of experience in the industry, joined Hupfer as Business Development Manager, and is currently working hard on growing our relationships and accounts with key players in the industry.
Anthony’s appointment has been followed by Keith May who has taken on the role of 3D Design Manager, along with the employment of two other sales and design roles, allowing Hupfer to further improve on our service offering.
As well as the factory over in Germany, Hupfer are now investing heavily in the production facilities available at our Knowsley site, allowing us to further improve our range of products that are available in the UK. This investment involves a restructure of our factory and a new design office, sales office and meeting rooms. This restructure will also our UK operation to be fully capable of producing and assembling Hupfer products, as well Trak equipment.
Alongside taking the necessary steps in securing the operation in the UK, Hupfer also have the necessary experience in dealing with companies outside of the EU. Brexit is set to effect the way the UK trades with businesses in Europe, but with offices all over the globe, our Export and Shipping department in Germany are well equipped and are able to process everything extremely efficiently.
As an international company, Hupfer prides itself on being able to react and change to any political environment. Our team in both Germany and the UK can offer flexibility in manufacturing and administration and will be working hard to ensure that the fallout from the Brexit deal will run smoothly for our customers in the UK.
W2F