Friday 1st Dec. 2017 07:30am (sharp) at: Flex Ltd., Kilbarry Business Park, Dubin Hill, Cork (map: Flex Ltd.) is the venue for our Dec. 2017 Breakfast Briefing
Continuing our theme of Cost Reduction, Reinvention and Innovation our December briefing reviews a successful business outside our industry sectors.
We are delighted Mr Theodore H. “Ted” Nixon, Chairman and CEO, D.D. Williamson has graciously accepted our request to speak to CEIA members.
Ted, will share with us “The DDW Story”
Founded in 1865 – the year Lincoln was assassinated – DDW has been in the food colours business for an astonishing 152 years.
It was founded by Dutch immigrant Douw Ditmars Williamson in New York to manufacture burnt sugars for the brewing industry.
Ted joined D.D. Williamson in 1974 in manufacturing, he became Director of Operations in 1976, added Sales and Marketing responsibilities in 1980.
He was promoted to President and COO in 1982, and became CEO in 1992.
DDW now operates ten manufacturing facilities on five continents. (USA (3), Brazil, Ireland (2), UK (2), Swaziland, Malaysia & China.
Over 75% of DDW’s sales are outside the USA; and each day, their products colour over 2 billion servings of foods and beverages on a global basis.
Its product standards result from quality systems that exceed those required by all national and global food agencies, backed with a global team of dedicated professionals and 152 years of experience in the colouring industry. This combination of innovation, experience, and dedication, makes DDW the best source of natural colours for food and beverage applications in the world.
In 1978 DDW opened its first international company in Cork, to supply Europe’s growing soft drinks industry.
Advances in technology is just one example of how innovation is key when working within the natural colours industry. Technology is required to improve precision when matching colours, testing stability, and replacing synthetics. This capability mimics what the eyes see by measuring reflected or transmitted light at various wavelengths within the visible spectrum and quantifies colour based upon a three-dimensional colour space, helping colour scientists create custom blends for customers that better match their desired hue.
Ted’s presentation will cover the story of DDW worldwide from 1865 to date and will focus on key topics such as Innovation, Invention, Re-invention, Reaction to changing circumstances, Globalization, Specialization, some of the challenges DDW has faced over the years and how it has dealt with these to maintain DDW as a world leader in its industry.
The CEIA would like to thank Jerry Fitzpatrick and the team in Flex Ltd. Who have generously agreed to host this event at their site in Kilbarry.
Please contact info@ceia.ie to register your attendance