Senior Sales Manager Celebrates 33 Years with Wyke Farms and takes his 10,000th cheese order!
82-year-old Martin Pollard describes his long-standing role as ‘dream job’
Bruton, 12th May Somerset, 2020 – Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer, and producer of renewable energy, celebrates one of its longest standing employee’s 33 years’ service this month.
Martin Pollard joined Wyke Farms in May 1987 as a ‘South West Sales Rep’, tasked with developing sales in the area through wholesalers and food services, including schools and colleges. In a pre-Internet era, Martin would source sales potential in his local library using the Yellow Pages and out in the field by ‘van spotting’. He also targeted dairies who still had milk floats and offered farm visits generously so as many people as possible could come to Wyke Farms to experience the cheese making first-hand. His ‘wholesale’ and ‘school’ business increased and many of the contacts he made all those years ago are maintained today: “Most of my wholesalers are good friends, we support each other,” says Martin. “Times and methods have changed; I no longer need to drive so much but relationships are still at the heart of what I do,” he continues.
During Martin’s time at Wyke Farms, his daughter Sarah also joined the team. This is not unusual for the company where many generations of the same family can be found; 15% of the Wyke Farms work force also have a relative working in the business and over one third of employees (34%) have been with the company for over 10 years. At 82 years old, Martin has no plans of retiring and this month secured his 10,000th cheese order. He will be officially celebrating his success with Wyke Farms after social distancing measures are relaxed.
“When we interviewed Martin, it took me less than five minutes to decide he was the one for us! An exceptional salesperson, and a fine man to boot,” said John Clothier, Chairman, Wyke Farms.
Wyke Farms’ cheese and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar making region in Somerset.
