DS Smith wins six Mars Chocolate quality awards

DS Smith plants across Europe have proved their ability to consistently deliver quality packaging after taking six of the 11 awards at the Mars Chocolate 'Packaging Suppliers 2013 Quality Awards '. DS Smith Nördlingen and Fegersheim were recognised as the top performers in the corrugated and carton categories, while DS Smith Margarethen, Eerbeek, Kutno and Toury won awards for achieving perfect conformance.

When Mars Chocolate announced that DS Smith had won six out of the 11 quality excellence awards at its recent 'Packaging Suppliers 2013 Quality Awards ', DS Smith Strategic Account Director for Mars Frank McCusker was overjoyed. "It makes me very proud that we are able to achieve such a high level of quality and satisfaction to our customer. I have been impressed by the consistency and dedication that I see from our teams across Europe."

Mars: devoted to quality

The awards are a reflection of our commitment to quality – one of Mars' five principles that guide their approach to business.

"Quality is really important to Mars," commented Ros Hamilton, Mars Vendor Assurance Manager. "Having suppliers that can supply good quality consistently is an absolute must for us."

Mars Chocolate introduced its Quality Focus Initiative (QFI) back in 2006 to reward high performing suppliers. The Site of Quality Excellence awards recognise overall quality excellence taking into consideration volume and complexity of supply, and Perfect Performance awards recognise 100% compliance.

Our eight DS Smith plants that supply corrugated and four plants that supply cartons to the seven Mars Chocolate factories across Europe are all committed to the initiative.

Recognising supplier quality excellence

This year, Richard Stuckes, CEO of DS Smith Packaging, and Hervé Colléaux, DS Smith European Sales Director of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), accompanied Frank McCusker to the Mars Chocolate 'Packaging Suppliers 2013 Quality Awards'.

DS Smith awards included:

• DS Smith Nördlingen won Site of Quality Excellence for the fifth consecutive year in the corrugated category for achieving 0.0015% non-compliance.
• DS Smith Fegersheim won Site of Quality Excellence in the cartons category with 0.002% non-compliance.
• DS Smith Margarethen, Eerbeek and Kutno (for a second consecutive year) received Perfect Performance awards in the corrugated category, as did DS Smith Toury in the cartons category for the third year running.

Ros Hamilton, Mars Vendor Assurance Manager said: "This year DS Smith won six out of the 11 awards. It was a fantastic achievement. The consistency and the performance of some of these sites have been amazing,"

Driving the highest standards

Frank McCusker shared the great news with our plant managers that same evening. Paul Feistle, MD for DS Smith Nördlingen, was thrilled. "It is a great honour for the team to win Site of Quality Excellence for the fifth consecutive year and it is confirmation that our compliance processes are powerful and sustainable."

Patrice Collet, Managing Director for DS Smith Fegersheim and Toury was also delighted. "Being given these awards by Mars makes our team very, very proud. They give us the vigour to improve again and to be confident of the future."

These awards are recognition of our commitment to constantly drive the highest standards of quality across all our packaging plants.