Meadow Foods
Dairy company goes for the cream to keep its website fresh
These days a company's most important marketing tool is its website. It has never been easier or more cost-effective to publicise new products and services, announce successes and generally keep in touch with customers and partners.
When major producer of dairy products Meadow Foods recently implemented a rebranding exercise, the time seemed right to revisit the firm's old and static website. They turned to Samarind for help.
Meadow Foods is the UK's leading producer of dairy-based ingredients for blue chip food manufacturers. The company has two manufacturing sites, one in Cheshire, the other in Yorkshire, suppliers include approximately 400 farmers.
"Our old website was very much directed towards customers but we needed to make it relevant to our farmers and suppliers, as well," explained Group It Manager Debra Foden. "It was also very static. We couldn't update it ourselves which made changes slow and costly. Meadow Foods needed the tools to manage updates for themselves. Samarind had the answer: their own Content Management System."
A Content Management System (CMS) enables staff (including non-technical staff) to quickly and easily create, edit, manage and finally publish a variety of content, such as text, graphics and videos.
The key features of Samarind's CMS is that it:
- Allows customers to manage their own web content and update it so that it keeps pace with their business;
- Is user-friendly, with no need for HTML or coding skills;
- Is customisable;
- Is search-engine friendly.
"It really is easy to use," says Debra. "It's a very intuitive system and we're delighted with it. And if I have had any questions, Matt Worrall has always been available at the end of the phone to answer them."
Matt, Samarind's Web Team Manager, explains: "When Meadow Foods first approached us, it was immediately apparent that what was needed was a brand new, fully content managed website. It was also important that the website became a more effective marketing tool by ensuring that there was improved ranking in the search engines. Our CMS has been carefully designed to provide the best in search engine optimisation."
The website is also functional and attractive. Samarind designed it to reflect the new branding developed by Meadow Food's PR firm. Meadow Foods has wasted no time in uploading new information.
"We won an award in October for our commitment towards supporting Britain's dairy farmers, so it was nice to put that up," says Debra. "Our Head of Milk Procuration is uploading regular newsletters covering such crucial topics as milk price increases and our MD works closely with our PR company to keep it fresh.
"The new website is just so much better than the old one. It looks fantastic and it's much more lively and informative."
For further information about Meadow Foods, view the website.