Business wins award Employee receives award
by Stella Shepard
I sland Taylored
Meats Inc. has been
named the 2010
Eastern PEI Business
of the Year. The
award was presented
by the Eastern
Prince Edward
Island Chamber
Dianne and Martin Taylor own
of Commerce in
Island Taylored Meats Inc.,
conjunction with Small
located in Montague.
Business Week.
This business is owned and operated by Dianne and Martin Taylor.
Five of their children are now working in the business that has expanded
from a small hobby to a large-scale operation.
“Our children grew up learning the business,” says Martin. “Now our
grandchildren are being exposed to the business. They’re learning to
provide good customer service while developing social and math skills.”
Their sausages and other meat products are hand-made in their own
plant using quality meat from their farm and from other local farmers.
Their products are sold at farmers’ markets, retail outlets, two Island
Superstores, several restaurants, and accommodations across the Island.
They also provide custom-made products for several Island farmers who
sell at farmers’ markets and retail outlets.
“We were very honoured and humbled to be nominated for the award,”
says Martin. “We started with a franchise that lasted five years. It was our
education in the product production business. Then we decided to buy
the farmland and develop our own unique brand of fresh products and
quality smoked products.”
“The key to running a successful business is perseverance, believing in
your products, and then making it happen. Great customer service, high
quality products and stubbornness are the reasons we are still in business.
Customer feedback encouraged us to continue with the business, which
we’ve restarted three times to get where we are today.”
“The Charlottetown Farmers’ Market has been the backbone of our
business for 18 years,” says Dianne. “We’ve never missed a Saturday.
We also serve our products at special events, trade shows, and Island
festivals.
Expansion
As a result of increased demand for their products, they are expanding to
create a larger production area and a new retail outlet where people can
buy directly from the Taylor family. The expansion will be completed
and open by December 2010.
“We expect that the expansion will result in more sales and employment
opportunities.”
Staffing needs
“We hire university students as needed for the farmers’ markets,” says
Martin. “Presently, we have nine employees who work in production,
bookkeeping, delivery and filling orders.
“This summer, we will be hiring two more people to assist with
production and help manage the new retail space which is presently
under construction.”
For more information about Island Taylored Meats, contact
Dianne and Martin at 838-3988 or toll free at 1-866-838-3988.
Visit www.peilocal.com/islandtayloredmeats
Visit the business at their location at 978 Queens Road, Montague.
2010 Blog www.employmentjourney.com
by Patrica Roy
J illian Wood, formerly of O’Leary, was
named Employee of the Year at the
17th Annual Greater Summerside Chamber
of Commerce Excellence in Business
Awards, held during Small Business Week
in October.
Jillian works at Simply for Life in
Summerside, where she has been
employed since 2007. Her main duties at
Jillian Wood, Lead
the clinic are to empower clients to adopt a
Nutritionist Consultant.
healthier lifestyle by educating them about
nutrition.
“She spends many hours listening to clients and customizing meal plans
based on their medical and personal needs,” says her award citation,
which was provided by her employer Denise Michaud. “Clients come to
the clinic at the recommendation of their doctors and Jillian ensures open
communication with all medical experts connected to clients’ health.”
“Jillian brings her whole self to work and chooses to leave her personal
life at the door,” says Denise. “That is a mark of a true professional. Her
time at the office is dedicated to working with the other staff to enhance
the experience of the clients.”
Simply For Life has 36 franchises across Canada. Denise purchased a
franchise and opened the business in 2007.
Community involvement
Jillian volunteers with the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Jack Frost
Children’s event, the West Point Lighthouse Festival, and the Terry Fox
Run.
“She has also taken the initiative to start a high school nutrition program.
This is her way of helping the next generation break the fast food habit,”
says Denise.
Jillian said that when she was establishing her career in the field of
nutrition, she looked for a job that would be fulfilling and would satisfy
her passion for helping people. “My current position fits that description.
Every day I work with people who have the same goal as I have for them
– to feel good and to achieve optimum health. They make my job very
fulfilling. I share this award with them.”
Training as a Nutritionist
Jillian graduated from UPEI with a Bachelor of Science in Food and
Nutrition. She plans to return to her studies so that she can continue
working towards becoming a Registered Dietician, which involves an
internship under the supervision of a qualified Dietician.
Wages
According to Service Canada, the average wage for a nutritionist/
dietician is $21.20 per hour.
To find out more about becoming a nutritionist or a dietitian,
visit www.labourmarketinformation.ca
or www.dietitians.ca or www.upei.ca/fns/foods
For more information about the
Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce,
visit www.chamber.summerside.ca
For more information about Simply for Life,
visit www.simplyforlife.com
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Dec/Jan 2011