Valeo Foods UK uplifts to IFS Cloud with Change8
Valeo Foods UK are ahead of schedule to complete their uplift from IFS Apps 10 to IFS Cloud with support from Change8. The two companies worked as one team on Valeo’s IFS Apps 10 implementation in 2020, and Change8 was the immediate choice to assist in the technical uplift to IFS Cloud. Change8’s unique approach reduces risk and ensures a predictable programme of change.
Valeo Foods Group is a leading international food business
Valeo Foods Group is a fast-growing consolidator in the food sector, with revenues increasing five-fold to approximately €1.2 billion since its formation in 2010. The group employs 4,500 people across their network of 27 manufacturing facilities.
Their UK platform includes heritage brands such as Rowse Honey, Barratt and Kettle, and across Ireland and Europe, their diverse portfolio includes Jacob’s, Batchelors and Balconi.
In 2024, Valeo Foods Group received a Gold rating by EcoVadis, a global leader in business sustainability assessments. Valeo Foods Group ranks in the top 5 per cent of all companies globally and in the top 2 per cent for the food industry.
“We knew Change8 very well from the IFS Apps 10 implementation. They delivered excellent results, and it was a natural fit to continue that relationship as we transitioned to IFS Cloud.”
Toby Atkins
Information Systems Transformation Lead, Valeo Foods UK
The flagship project: implementing IFS Apps 10 at Rowse Honey
In 2020-21 Valeo Foods UK brought in Change8 for support in upgrading Rowse Honey from its legacy system to IFS Apps 10. The implementation saw significant improvements in operational control and financial management.
“As CFO I was insistent on 100% purchase order compliance for better control and Change8 helped me embed that change across the business, making sure the team understood why it was essential.”
Mike Woulfe
Chief Transformation Officer, Valeo Foods UK
The project was a resounding success for Valeo Foods UK, delivering business benefits within the set timeframe and budget. The integration of stock management allowed every movement, from raw materials to finished goods, to be tracked in real-time, giving the business tighter control over their stock inventory and production processes. Financial visibility improved, with clearer insights into costs and better control of purchasing through the newly implemented purchase order system.
Change management – the key to success
One of the standout aspects of Change8’s involvement was their ability to manage change – a critical component of any ERP implementation. Mike Woulfe, Valeo Foods UK’s former CFO and now Chief Transformation Officer, was focused on delivering value in the IFS product. The new system had to be fully adopted by the business to drive tangible benefits.
““What stood out to me about Change8’s approach was the personality and the mindset they brought to the program, very flexible, very willing to assess the pace that the business and more importantly the project team were capable of working at, and to tailor their support to different members in the team accordingly.”
Mike Woulfe
Chief Transformation Officer, Valeo Foods UK
Beyond the tangible outcomes, the partnership with Change8 brought lasting benefits. The team spirit fostered during the IFS Apps implementation continues to drive future projects, with many of the team members now in leadership roles within the company. This collaborative culture, shaped in part by Change8’s leadership and support, has laid the foundation for ongoing success.
3-Month CRIM uplift to IFS Cloud
The successful implementation led to the decision to uplift IFS Apps 10 to IFS Cloud, and roll out the new software across the operating companies in Valeo Foods UK. Change8’s familiarity with the business combined with their expertise in IFS made them the go-to partner for the next phase of delivery.
The Valeo team worked with Change8 to prioritise and accelerate CRIM uplift to delivery within 12 weeks. This approach de-risked the project, addressing technical challenges early and increasing the predictability of the implementation as a whole.
“We pulled everything up, so that all the CRIM was delivered earlier. This gave Valeo Foods a fully functional solution including all CRIMS and security early in the upgrade. The result was more time to perform full solution testing leading to greater confidence in the upgrade.”
Jon Allen
Change8 Programme Director
The future is exciting
Valeo Foods and Change8 continue to collaborate on the rollout of IFS Cloud across the UK. This long-term partnership is built on mutual trust, a shared understanding of Valeo’s business needs, and a proven ability to deliver on both technical and change management fronts. As Valeo looks to the future, expanding into new markets and making use of the full capabilities of IFS Cloud, they are confident that Change8 will remain a vital partner.
“The future for us, within our business in the UK, together with Change8 is actually quite exciting. We are setting out on a journey to bring the initial implementation that we made with Change8 to the rest of our business across the UK.”
Mike Woulfe
Chief Transformation Officer, Valeo Foods UK
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