Case Studies
Wicken Fen Wholesome Foods Ltd
Wicken Fen Wholesome Foods Ltd produces a range of chilled and frozen vegetarian food products for UK retailers and wholesalers. A small private business based in Duns in the Scottish Borders, the managing director of Wicken Fen was looking to develop two critical processes – new product development and account management.
The Strategy
The Borders-based company engaged with the Intellectual Assets Centre as a participant on the European-funded Innovative Actions Project. The company was one of four Borders businesses involved in a project designed to test new approaches that stimulate innovation in Scottish businesses.
Founded in 1992, Wicken Fen began life making gourmet vegetarian sausages from its purpose-built factory in Duns. Its initial vegetarian sausage product range had expanded to incorporate vegetarian kebabs, Thai style noodle burgers and vegetarian fingerfoods. Clients include a number of UK retailers and wholesalers that supply airlines and local authorities.
Acting as managing director, sales director and the head of new product development (NPD), Paul Weeks was aware that the future growth of the business would need to be supported by continuous improvements to key processes.
The Success
As part of the project, Wicken Fen was provided with a free intellectual assets (IA) consultancy service provided by Glasgow-based IA specialists Metis Partners. The company was involved in a process which analysed the critical intellectual assets in the business that could be leveraged to support the NPD and account management processes. Central to the project was a rigorous analysis of current processes and how they could be refined to support the company’s growth strategy.
"I think the Innovative Actions Project was an eye-opener for me," said Weeks. "I have never thought that Wicken Fen had any intellectual assets. I see as a result of this project that we must keep in mind the value of the intellectual assets accrued of any business we develop or think of developing.”
