Name: Glenn O'Sullivan
Company: Refrigafreighters
Industry: 3PL / Storage / Transport
Region: Auckland
Programme: Owner Manager Programme, 2014
Glenn O’Sullivan bought 50% of Refrigafreighters in 2012 after returning to New Zealand from a successful transport and logistics career in London.
Refrigafreighters was established in 2001, when the founder of the business partnered with another industry veteran who had been freighting chilled and frozen goods throughout New Zealand since the mid-1980s. Through steady business growth and acquisitions, Refrigafreighters has grown into a top freighting company and remains 100% New Zealand owned. They are one of the largest individual carriers of carcass meat in the North Island with 30 trucks and 15 trailers and the goal to add another 25 trucks. Their trucks are purpose built for hanging carcass transportation maximising quality control. The company was previously owned by three directors, including Bryan Tracey who now owns the other 50% of the business.
During his 7 years in London, Glenn, with another business partner, set up, owned and managed a successful removals business which specialised in premium household relocations. Of particular note, his company achieved the Royal Warrant for moving the Queen and her family from Windsor to Balmoral annually. So with a wealth of transport and logistics experience it seemed like a natural fit to buy another transport company – I mean, how different can antiques and meat carcasses be?
Well the answer is quite a lot different. It took Glenn 18 months to learn the business and feel comfortable enough to then join The Icehouse’s Owner Manager Programme. It was actually his business partner Bryan who encouraged him to join the Programme after seeing significant results from his own journey on the Programme a few years ago.
Although Glenn was aware of the Programme’s strong reputation, he wasn’t sure whether it would have a good fit for his needs. He decided to take the plunge anyway and was delighted to be successful with the $5,000 sponsorship from The Icehouse’s partner Gen-i.
After Block 1 and 2 of the Programme he wasn’t disappointed.
“I found all the content so energising. I came away with a huge list of things I wanted to get done to grow our business. It was also a great way to meet other business owners and build a bigger network especially since I haven’t lived in Auckland before.”
“It’s hugely beneficial to listen to the range of speakers – their experiences, advice and case studies have been fascinating. There’s always something to learn from others in business, it’s naïve to think you know everything and don’t need any help.”
“All in all, it already feels like therapy to my business. I would say that 50% has come from the course itself and 50% has come from the people I’ve met on the course.”
Currently the group on the 31st Owner Manager Programme are working on business profiling, business financials, organisational structure, strategy, and defining their brand and core competencies.
Glenn completed the final block (Block 5) of the 31st Owner Manager Programme on 27 July and here’s what he has to say about the programme overall.
“I absolutely loved it! The programme was an awesome learning experience that has hugely benefited me personally and my business.”
The programme helped Glenn in a number of ways, firstly by providing a platform to think about the business and secondly, a framework to figure out how to improve aspects of the business. For example, he says “writing the Referigafreighters business plan and allowing an expert panel to dissect and discuss the plan’s validity was absolutely invaluable”.
He also learnt a range of skills but believes the one that stood out was the ability to study and analyse his own business. This was critical in identifying areas that needed attention. “I was able to identify an area of deficiency in our accounting and the company’s management of cashflow. But the financial skills I now know will be implemented and we will continue to improve this area of the business”.
A more structured and disciplined workplace is also something he’s working towards. The plans are to introduce an induction programme for Refrigafreighters drivers, which will streamline processes and raise quality.
Refrigafreighters will also be re-defining their core competencies and focusing on improving them and communicating them throughout the business so that they can be part of the company culture.
A lot was learnt and a lot is still to be implemented. But it wasn’t just the expertise that was valuable to Glenn, the networking opportunities were a hugely important part of his journey. Having been overseas for a number of years and never lived in Auckland, Glenn was finding it hard to build up a professional network. The programme provided him with a large network of business owners and business experts. It has even led Glen to review the company’s current professional advisers. “Everyone on the programme was so supportive. It was all inclusive and everyone was willing to improve and help others along their journey towards business growth. At the end of the day, everyone was there to improve which made for a pretty powerful atmosphere.”
“Personally, any small to medium sized business needs to be on the programme if they are serious about achieving their growth potential. I believe that the cost will be made back in revenue growth within 6-12 months of finishing the programme.”
These are the results we, as The Icehouse, want to see: a business owner who was quite hesitant when starting the programme and wasn’t sure if the fit was right; to one who now has a strong business plan in place, positive changes to implement and a network of other business owners and business experts who can provide advice and be sounding boards for his plans.
Glenn will complete the Owner Manger Programme with an Implementation Day Workshop on the 24th of October, where he will review the changes he has made and how it is impacting the business.
Glenn aims to put what he has learned on the Programme to good use in his business. A key objective is to understand how to best maintain awareness that Refrigafreighters is New Zealand’s leading specialised carcass meat carrier but also build the profile of their extensive chilled carton and pallet capability across New Zealand. Refrigafreighters is acquiring another company this month and moving office locations so there are big plans in store for the business in the next few months.
