At JJ Foodservice, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to grow, we've refreshed our mission, vision and values to ensure they reflect who we are today and where we're heading tomorrow.

Image caption: Branch Manager Mark Henderson (Left) Awarding Stephen Nicholson, Warehouse Manager, with JJ LOV Award, both from Newcastle Branch

To bring those values to life, we're proud to introduce the Living Our Values (LOV) Awards – a new recognition programme designed to celebrate colleagues who go above and beyond in their everyday roles.

Why We've Launched the LOV Awards

Our mission is simple: to offer quality at everyday low prices.

Supporting that mission are four core values that guide how we work together, support our customers and drive the business forward: Quality First, Outstanding Service, Trust & Loyalty, One JJ Family.

While these values shape many of the decisions we make, we wanted to create a meaningful way to recognise colleagues who demonstrate them in action every day.

Joanna Florczak, Head of HR at JJ Foodservice, said: "It is a simple idea, but recognition can be incredibly powerful. When people feel appreciated, they are more engaged, more motivated and more connected to the wider business."

Recognising Everyday Excellence

The LOV Awards are open to colleagues across the business, with nominations submitted by peers who have witnessed someone making a positive difference.

Whether it's delivering exceptional customer service, supporting a colleague, improving a process, or stepping up when it's needed most, the awards celebrate the actions that strengthen our culture and support our success.

Each nomination is assessed against three key criteria:

• A clear example of action taken

• Strong alignment with one or more JJ values

• Evidence of positive impact on customers, colleagues or the business

One winner is selected each month and receives £250 added to their salary, alongside company-wide recognition for their achievement.

Meet Our First-Ever Winner

We're delighted to announce that Stephen Nicholson, Warehouse Manager at our Newcastle branch, is the inaugural recipient of a LOV Award.

Stephen was recognised for demonstrating Outstanding Service and Trust & Loyalty, consistently going above and beyond to support both customers and colleagues.

His nomination highlighted the kind of commitment, teamwork and customer focus that embody the JJ Foodservice culture.

Commenting on the award, Joanna added:

"The LOV Awards are a direct reflection of what we stand for as a business. Stephen's actions show exactly what living those values looks like in practice – going above and beyond for customers and colleagues alike. We're proud to recognise him as our first-ever winner, and we're looking forward to celebrating many more stories like his."

Building a Stronger One JJ Family

Recognition plays an important role in creating a positive workplace culture. By celebrating colleagues who exemplify our values, we hope to inspire others, strengthen our connections as a team and reinforce the behaviours that help us succeed together.

The LOV Awards aren't just about recognising great work. They're about spotlighting the people who help make JJ Foodservice a great place to work and a trusted partner for our customers. As we continue our journey, we look forward to sharing more stories of colleagues who are helping bring our values to life every day.

Want to learn more about our refreshed mission, vision and values?

Visit the Mission, Vision & Values page.