Complete Co-packing, based in Abercynon, Wales, hired Sophie Thomas as a sales and marketing affiliate through the Project HELIX Knowledge Transfer Programme in 2019 due to the company’s rapid expansion and the opening of a brand-new 65,000 square foot plant.
The ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University is a division of Food Innovation Wales responsible for implementing the Project HELIX Knowledge Transfer Programme.
Complete Co-director packing’s of business development, Jeff Parry, remarked, “Strategically, it was nice to have a new building, but we had to fill it. The only option was expansion, both in terms of revenue and public recognition. And that’s exactly why we decided to partner with a marketing and sales firm.
While at ZERO2FIVE for her two-and-a-half year placement, Thomas was coached and mentored by a group of professionals with backgrounds in marketing and sales for some of the UK’s leading FCMG businesses.
Complete Co-initial packing’s point of contact for sales inquiries from customers was Thomas, an affiliate, who then facilitated further evaluation within the company. Thomas was in charge of the entire marketing department, from social media to media relations to email newsletters and trade show appearances. In 2021, Complete Co-packing achieved a record-breaking £3.5 million in revenue, experienced their highest volume of inquiries, and successfully introduced 17 new items developed in close partnership with their customers.
We got more sales inquiries, which led to more sales, because of Sophie’s marketing efforts. People have a better understanding of our company now, so their inquiries are of a higher quality,” added Parry.
Thomas was recognised for her early success in the business world by being named to Packaging Innovations’ list of the 30 under 30 for 2020. The awards recognise the most promising young professionals in the packaging industry.
Complete Co-packing has made Thomas an official employee and given him responsibility for sales and marketing.
This shows how much I’ve improved over the past three years, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Working with everyone at Complete Co-packing and getting marketing help from ZERO2FIVE has been a perfect balance, she said.