Banbury-based Guenther Bakeries has awarded Axis Cleaning and Support Services with a new five-year cleaning and hygiene maintenance contract.

The company has also been re-awarded a contract to deploy the same services at Guenther’s Heywood site in Lancashire for a similar five-year term.

Chris Kendall, purchasing manager at Guenther Bakeries, said the overall objectives of the new longer-term contract were to add value, improve standards and rationalise costs and service delivery across the two sites.

“Axis demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our sites, as well as the stringent cleaning and hygiene requirements for food manufacture,” Kendall said. “Axis introduced a Master Sanitisation Plan at the Heywood site that informs and controls staff movements and daily working patterns. This will now be rolled out at Banbury.

He added that a detailed training plan has also been put in place, including quarterly review meetings where Axis will demonstrate the value that training has brought to the business.

“Employee progression, empowerment, and morale were other key drivers in our tender process,” Kendall adds. “Axis has helped us to provide a further enhanced employee training and benefits package that will support these goals. It is also very beneficial to have Axis manage all recruitment, payroll, and remuneration reviews.”

Since working with Guenther Bakeries at the Heywood site, Axis has helped its client achieve its highest-ever audit ratings.