Paralympic sports - past and present

The excitement of the Olympics Games may have died down a bit but there is certainly still anticipation in the air. There is a happy buzz across London and it seems the city is still on a sporting high because everyone is now awaiting the Paralympic Games. And there isn’t too long to wait either. The Paralympics will be kicking off on 29 August and I for one cannot wait.

While perusing the Paralympics Games website the other day I came across a few sports that I didn’t really know. It encouraged me to look into other popular Paralympic sports so that’s exactly what I did…I knuckled down and got on with some research. The findings were rather interesting. Do you know your Paralympic sports past and present? If not take a look at these:

Boccia
Boccia is a demanding but exciting sport that is a tough test of extreme skill, nerves and tactics. It requires strong muscle control, accuracy and concentration. It can be played by individuals, pairs or teams.

Boccia is played on a rectangular court and the aim is to throw leather balls and land them as close as possible to a white target ball, or jack. In this sense it is very similar to the well-known games of boules or petanque. The jack is thrown first and then the two opposing sides will play one ball each. The side who is furthest away from the jack will throw their remaining balls in an effort to get closer to it or to knock the opposition’s balls out of the way. Once they have thrown all their balls the opposing side will throw theirs. At the end of the round the referee measures the distance of the balls to the jack and awards points to the team or player who is closest. The team or player with the highest amount of points at the end of the game is the winner.

The balls can be moved with hands, feet, or, if the competitor’s disability is severe, with an assistive device such as a ramp. This year Great Britain are the defending Paralympic champions in this sport. Hooray for Team GB!



Photo: tetraplegicos.blogspot.co.uk

Goalball
Goalball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports and is played competitively in more than 100 countries. It is played by blind and visually impaired athletes. Blindfolds are used by those athletes who have partial sight so as to compete on an equal footing with the blind players. The game was originally developed as a rehabilitation activity for injured soldiers returning from the Second World War.

In goalball participants compete in teams of three and try to throw the ball into their opponent’s goal. The teams take it in turns to throw or roll the ball from one end of the court to the other. The ball has a bell in it so that players can judge the ball’s position and movement. The teams remain in the area of their own goal in both defence and attack and whoever gets the most goals wins the game.

Photo: buryssp.co.uk

Ice Sledge Hockey
This is the Paralympic version of Olympic Ice Hockey and is played by athletes with a lower limb impairment. It is a very popular Paralympic sport and was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm, Sweden at a rehabilitation centre. The game uses sledges, which are adapted to each player, to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds, hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph. Players propel themselves with sticks.

The majority of the rules are the same as regular ice hockey, but there are a handful of differences. The main differences are those necessitated by the ice sledge and the athlete. The equipment used is also similar.

Sledge Hockey was first introduced into Great Britain in 1981 and the British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) was formed in 1995 in order to promote and develop the sport.

Photo: nowpublic.com

Dartchery
It’s quite self-explanatory but Dartchery is a combination of darts and archery. It is played with two players or two teams and the distant from the archer to the target is 20 yards (18.3 metres), Each player shoots three arrows and the points received depend on where the arrow hits the target.  The sport was actually part of the Paralympic games between 1960 and 1980.

Photo: enlightenedmind.co.uk

Showdown

This sport is a bit like air hockey or table tennis and is played by blind and visually impaired people. It is played by two players on a table that has goal pockets on each end. In the middle of the table there is a net like divider. The participants play the game with racquets and an audible ball. The aim of the game is to keep the ball out of the goal but to try and get it into the opponent’s net. It must pass under the net.

The game was invented in the 1960s by Joe Lewis, a totally blind Canadian man. The sport has been played in the Paralympic Games in the past but it is no longer part of the event.

Photo: showdownsweden.se

So there we have it, five sports that until today I’d never really heard of. Every day’s a school day and all that! If you know of any other popular Paralympic sports please do let us know. It’d be great to hear about them.

Peace, love and pizza.

What On Earth

Strange sports from around the world

All this Olympic talk got me thinking about sports that go on around the world. There are obviously hundreds, but aside from the regular sports there are some rather unusual ones that exist too. I never knew the world of sport was quite so colourful!

After doing some research into the strange sports that happen across the globe, I found some rather amusing ones that I just had to share with you. Here are ten of my favourite weird and wonderful sporting events that take place.

Bog snorkelling:
This muddy sport is exactly as it sounds – snorkelling in a bog. It first began in 1976 after the game was devised over a pint of beer. The first World Bog Snorkelling Championship was then held in 1985. This annual event, which attracts more than 100 people, still takes place today and it is held in Wales. Contestants must swim two lengths of a 55 metre bog trench wearing a snorkel and fins, although they are not allowed to use regular swimming strokes.

Photo: tommartinphotos.blogspot.com

Bed racing:
Another British sport to add to the list. Bed racing was introduced in 1965 in the town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. The first race was only open to Army, Navy and American marines but now it is open to anybody. The rules state that competitors must race in teams of six with one contestant on the actual bed. The rest push and control the bed round a 3km track that involves hills and river crossings.

Photo: jm.creativeblogs.net

Joggling:
This sport maintains a rather simple rule – competitors must juggle while jogging. Rather self-explanatory really! If an object is dropped the joggler (yes that is what they are termed) must return to the point where the object fell and continue from there. The annual Joggling World Championship was first held in 1980 in North Dakota, USA. The championships include a variety of races and the most common objects used are juggling balls and clubs.

Photo: en.Wikipedia.org

Sepak Takraw:
Sepak Takraw is an exciting fast paced sport that was founded in South-East Asia, perhaps as far back as the 15th century. The popularity of the game is spreading throughout the world. It brings together the skills and techniques found in volleyball, football and martial arts. It is traditionally played over a badminton-like net and each team has three players on the court at one time. The game is similar to volleyball, except that using the hands is not permitted and each player can touch the ball only once before it is hit over the net. The ball can be returned over the net using any part of the body except for the arm – from the shoulder to the point of the finger.

Photo: sepaktakrawfans.blogspot.co.uk

Street luge:
This extreme gravity powered activity is a dry land version of the renowned winter sport, the luge, although rules do vary. Participants race downhill feet first on a streetluge board, which is similar to a skateboard. Street luge started in 1975 in southern California. The sport was hosted by the US Skateboard Association but was soon halted due to a high number of injuries for both contestants and spectators. Several riders kept the sport alive and as a result the sport evolved rapidly. There are now there strict safety requirements for any sanctioned competitions, including the wearing of a helmet, sturdy shoes and a protective racing suit.

Photo: adventure.howstuffworks.com

Shin kicking:
This is an ancient sport that makes up part of the Cotswold Olimpicks (not a typo!), a popular event held in Gloucestershire since 1612. Once again the sport is rather self-explanatory with the aim to kick your opponent as hard as you can in the shins. Each time the opponent falls to the ground the other participant gets a point. The winner is the person with the highest score in the best of three rounds. The rules state that competitors can pad their legs with straw.

Photo: brainz.org

Canal jumping:
This unusual sport was founded in Holland and is known to locals as Fierljeppen. Contestants have to use a long pole to jump from one side of the canal to the other. The poles are between 3-5m long and have a flat round plate at the bottom to prevent it from sinking into the muddy canal. The contestants run and jump onto the pole and then shimmy to the top of it before jumping off on the opposite side of the canal. Participants attach bicycle inner tubes to their feet to aid their jump. A National Canal Jumping Contest is held in the Netherlands on 22 August each year. No prize is won in the competition, except the honour of being the Dutch Champion Canal Jumper.

Photo: obscuresports.wikispaces.com

Toe wrestling:

Another strange British sport with another simple theory. Competitors must take off their shoes and socks, face each other, interlock toes and try to force each other off the ‘toedium’. It is common courtesy for each player to remove their competitor’s socks (yuck!!) Typically, after a short starting chant (for example, “one, two, three, four, I declare a toe war.”), the competitors proceed to attempt to pin their opponent’s feet for three seconds, while avoiding the same. Pinning is accomplished by placing one foot on the same foot of the opponent. The first World Toe Wrestling Championship was held in 1976 after the game was devised in a pub in Derbyshire.

Photo: creative-journeys.com

Cardboard Tube Fighting:
Once a favourite childhood pastime after the wrapping paper had been used up, cardboard tube fighting is now a proper sport. Opponents go head to head and try to break each other’s tube without breaking their own. They also get points for cardboard costumes and theatrics. The game is so well known that a global organisation called the Cardboard Tube Fighting League (CTFL) was devised. The CTFL hosts cardboard tube based events in the USA and Australia.

Photo: laughingsquid.com

Dunny derby:
As you may know the dunny is an Australian term for the toilet so yes this sport does involve toilets! The Dunny Derby is an important event on the sporting calendar of Winton in Queensland, Australia. The unusual pursuit involves a person sitting on a lavatory on wheels while other team members pull it along. Teams can have up to five members. The event is part of the Outback Festival which is held every second year in September.

Photo: australiantraveller.com

So there’s a little round up of some rather unusual sports. The list doesn’t stop there though. There are plenty more strange pursuits going on around the world; some involving animals, some using food and some in which you’re attached to your spouse! You should look them up – they will definitely make you giggle. Maybe you’ll even be encouraged to have a go at some…

Peace, love and unusual sport pizza,

What On Earth

We're hiring! Wanted: one purchasing manager

If you fancy joining a fun, dynamic and friendly team in an innovative and busy organic food company then read on – you’re on the right tracks to getting there.

We are a small but ever growing organic food company that launched almost 14 years ago. Over the last few years we have seen some great success so are going through a period of expansion as a result. We are on the hunt for some excellent new staff members to join the team and are currently looking to fill the position of purchasing manager. This is a demanding but satisfying role that sees you dealing with clients and suppliers on a daily basis.

Job description:
Purchasing high quality products at the lowest possible cost and negotiating prices with suppliers, as well as ensuring all products are in stock and communicating stock availability to the team.

The purchasing manager is responsible for:

• Purchasing for all goods
• Stock control
• Creating and pringing labels and barcodes
• Customer service

Daily tasks will include:

• Daily stock check
• Ensuring communication with stock availability with all staff 
• Daily purchasing
• Creating labels
• Sourcing new products
• Organising transport
• Organising samples
• Liaising with the Production and Logisitcs Manager regarding ingredients, transport and deliveries
• Customer service: answering calls and taking orders
• Input customer orders
• Checking orders are correct
• Postage and Bank duties required
• Checking invoices that accounts have compiled before payment
• Liaising with staff in our Bridgwater depot regarding their products
• All Bridgwater purchasing orders
• Meeting with suppliers
• Attending trade shows and meetings for current and potential suppliers

We ideally would like the purchasing manager to have the following skills and experience:

• Top notch organisational and logistical skills
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Be numerically minded
• High level of customer service
• Experience using Microsoft programmes, especially Excel
• Experience using Sage
• Confident decision making ability
• Food trade experience

If you have skills and experience suitable for this role and believe you could be our next purchasing manager please get in touch. Send your CV and covering letter to our HR administrator Tara on tara@whatonearth.co.uk.

Due to the high volume of responses we get to job adverts we cannot promise that we will be able to get back to each and every one of you. Sorry! If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks please consider your application as unsuccessful. What on Earth Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Peace, love and pizza,

What On Earth

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Funny photos from the Olympic Games

London is getting busier, the Olympic Torch is getting ever closer to the Olympic Stadium (and What On Earth!) and there are only three days until the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. It’s clear to see that Olympics mania really is in full force. It has hit What On Earth too; we are now busier than ever, plus everybody in the office is chatting about the big event. With this in mind I thought I’d do a bit of reading up on the Olympics and that’s when I came across some very amusing photos.

It seems that in the past photographers from around the world have captured athletes at prime times during the Olympic Games. Whether the pictures were taken by fluke or with calculated timing, the photographers have certainly snapped their way to some amusing material. Some of the photos were so good that I had to share them with you. I have put together a collection of my favourites, which have all been taken from various websites. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not belittling these Olympiads, they are amazingly talented people after all, but you have to have a little giggle at some of these unfortunate pictures.



Photo: egotvonline.com

Photo: funnyphotography.blogspot.com

Photo: forum.asiajam.com

Photo: posted-in-jokes-tagged-book-recommendation-dictionary-funny.blogfunnyimg.no-ip.org Photo: oneinchpunch.net/

Photo: picfor.me

Photo: signsfunny.com

Photo: photographytips.com.au

Photo: smellyfunny.blogspot.co.uk

 

Photo: sportsfunny.com

Photo: sportzfun.com

So there we have it, some of our favourite amusing photos from different Olympic Games events from around the world. There were also a few photos that made us all squirm a bit but I didn’t want to add those in case we have some squeamish readers out there!

Peace, love and funny Olympics pizza,

What On Earth

Edible insects from across the world…how daring are you?

Last week I read a story about school children in Harrogate tucking into meal worms. They were fed the little critters to raise awareness of National Insect Week and the fact that insects can be eaten. When I discussed this story with people many of them pulled a face at the thought of it. But why? This got me thinking about how many people in the UK would actually eat insects, and also what insects are available to eat here. My curiosity spurred me on to look into the subject further. This is especially as I read recently that almost €3 million has been invested in an EU project to promote eating insects so it’s a rather hot topic at the moment. I took to the internet and social media to help with my research and it seems there are a few people in our Twittersphere who have eaten insects, but not many of them.

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

The idea of eating insects doesn’t worry me too much as I have had them in the past. My most favourite example is the scorpion, which I tried at a night market in China. A lot of people liken food they’ve tried to chicken but this isn’t something I can do. Aside from the fact that the scorpion doesn’t have much meat on it, it was so deep fried that it was just like a big crisp on a stick. It had no real flavour – it was just crunchy. As well as scorpions, there was a whole list of other bugs on the menu but then China and many other Asian countries are known for their wild cuisine. African and Latin American countries are also renowned for tucking into grubs, as are Australians. It seems that everyone else is doing it so why are the UK so against it?

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Having looked across a range of sources the lists of edible insects are almost never ending. There are loads of critters that can be tucked into, although in the UK it seems we have to import most of them. Either the insects are not native to this country or, if they are, they are just too tiny. Our little bugs wouldn’t feed a mouse let alone a human, so is this one of the reasons why edible insects aren’t so popular here? Or is it because we’ve always been brought up to associate creepy crawlies with being wriggly, dirty and a little bit scary?

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Perhaps we should be more open to eating them. Here is a list of just some of the insects across the world that can be eaten. Do you fancy any of them or have you tried any of them? If so, let us know. We’d love to hear all about them. Perhaps we should add start doing insect toppings on our pizzas*…you can’t get much more organic than that!

• Agave worm (Mexico)
• Ants
• Honeypot ants (Australia)
• Leafcutter ants (South American – especially Colombia)
• Lemon ants (Amazon)
• Flying Ant: Guatemala
• Bee (China)
• Beetle
• Dung beetle
• Rhino beetle
• Water beetle (China)
• Butterfly
• Caterpillar
• Centipede (China)
• Cicada (Japan, Thailand, Malaysia)
• Cockroach (Madagascar)
• Cricket (Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia)
• Dragonfly (Indonesia, China)
• Earthworm (Venezuela)
• Fly pupae
• Grasshopper (Mexico)
• Nsenene (Uganda)
• Locust
• Louse
• Moth
• Midge fly (East Africa)
• Pill-bug
• Sago grubs (Malaysia, Indonesia)
• Slug
• Scorpion (Thailand, China)
• Tarantula (Cambodia)
• Termite (Kenya)
• Wasp (Japan)
• Water Bug (Thailand)
• Wichetty grub (Australia)
• Worm
• Bamboo worm: Thailand
• Chiro worm (Peru)
• Hornworm
• Mealworm (China)
• Mopane worm (Botswana)
• Palm worm (Uganda)
• Silkworm (Korea)
• Waxworm
• Zaza-mushi (Japan)

Peace, love and insect pizza (?!)

What On Earth

*Disclaimer – obviously we mean that we would add the insects



How green are you? Take our quiz now…

National Recycling Week may have drawn- to a close but that doesn’t mean any environmental efforts have to wane. We’re a very ethical company so we try to do our bit in all areas of the business to reduce our carbon footprint. We’re proud of all the guys that work here because they help us to help the environment. Don’t worry – we’re not about to get too slushy on you! Basically we all do our bit to help but I expect there are many other ways we can get involved. I’m sure there are lots more ways you can get involved too – unless of course you’re some sort of eco-hero. If so, you should be teaching the rest of the world!

We’ve put together the following quiz to help you ascertain how green you are. Will you be as green as Kermit the Frog or as green as my bright white trainers? Take the test to find out:

How green are you?

1) Do you tend to have…?
      a) A quick wash
      b) A bath
      c) A quick shower
      d) A long shower

(If you don’t wash at all we think you should stop doing this test and go and get yourself clean)

2) How do you travel to work?
      a) By foot or bicycle
      b) By public transport
      c) Share a car
      d) Drive my own car alone

3) How often do you recycle?
      a) Daily
      b) Weekly
      c) Monthly
      d) Very rarely

4) How green are you at home?
      a) Extremely – I use wind or solar energy, have all eco furniture, compost, drive an
           eletrical car
      b) Fairly – I use green products, install energy saving lightbulbs, monitor water and
           electricity use when I can
      c) A little – I recycle where possible and try to save water and electricity
      d) Never – I don’t recycle, I don’t use any ethical products, I’m careless with electricity
           and water

5) Do you encourage friends and family to become eco savvy?
      a) All the time
      b) When I can
      c) They encourage me
      d) No, never

6) When you buy fruit and vegetables do you…
      a) Use own grown produce
      b) Visit a farmers market and buy local or organic produce
      c) Go to a supermarket but consider the quality of the produce you’re buying
      d) Go to any store that’s nearby and buy whatever they have – probably the cheapest

7) When you go shopping, what is your bag policy?
      a) I always use my own rucksack or canvas bags to put shopping in
      b) I re-use a ‘bag for life’ that I bought previously
      c) I recycle my old plastic bags where possible
      d) I always use new plastic bags provided by the shop

8) When you wash cutlery and crockery after a meal do you…
      a) Fill a small washing up bowl and use the same water for all my washing up
      b) Put them into a dishwasher but only switch it on when it’s full
      c) Wash everything under running water
      d) Rinse the cutlery and crockery, put them in the dishwasher and switch it on even if
           there are only two items in it

9) Are you ecologically mindful about your choice of food?
      a) Yes – I grow my own food and always avoid any unethical products
      b) Somewhat – I always opt for organic and local produce
      c) Not really but I do try to buy healthy and ethical food where possible
      d) Never, I buy whatever appeals to me in the shop and I don’t pay attention to the
           product label

10) Do you ever reuse leftover food?
      a) I use leftovers for new meals, throw them on the compost heap or donate them to
           charity
      b) I use leftovers for compost only or put them in the food waste
      c) Occasionally, I use some leftovers for new meals
      d) I like my food fresh, so off my plate and into the bin straight away

Answers

Mostly as) Get yourself a medal. You’re so green I wouldn’t be able to see you in a field of green grass. You’re like Kermit the Frog or The Incredible Hulk – you’re bright green and everybody can see that. You’re not just green on the outside either – you’re green through and through. If you were food you’d be broccoli, spinach or a pea. Everything about you is green. You should have a green song written about you – “green your house with a green little window and a green corvette and everything is green for you.” The planet should be proud to have you living upon it. Ask the Queen for a green knighthood – you deserve it.

Mostly bs) I can see you’re trying your hardest to be as green as you can be and for that we are grateful. You’re a bit like an avocado. The majority of you is green but there is part of you in the middle that isn’t quite there. Having said this, we applaud you for your green efforts – you are still an inspiration to us. If you were a golf course you wouldn’t quite be the actual green, but you’d definitely be the fairway as you’re on your way to the green dream. As a person you’d probably be Shrek – not quite bright green but definitely green and definitely loveable, if a little ugly.

Mostly cs) You may engage in a few green efforts but this isn’t necessarily always your choice. Perhaps it is obligatory or out of convenience. You have a long way to go to becoming a green hero – you’re definitely not a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle just yet. If you were food you’d be a bit like an unripe banana. You’re slightly green round the edges and slightly tasteless. You’re not quite sweet enough for us to like. You need to involve yourself in some serious eco-friendly activities and start introducing ethical habits into your life. It’ll make you more attractive, better travelled and much wiser.

Mostly ds) Was there really any reason for you doing this test? I think you knew the answer before you even started. There is absolutely nothing green about you I don’t think you could turn green with jealousy or nausea. You’re about as green as my foot and at the moment that is not green in the slightest…although it could go green if I changed my habits. Currently I am wearing white Converse trainers but if I changed my shoes for a green pair I’d be laughing. Even if I opted for a pair of Dunlop Green Flash I’d be on my way to becoming a beautiful green pair of Wellington boots. Take heed of this advice. Go forward and green yourself up – for the sake of the planet and your own beauty. The opposite sex will instantly be attracted to you if you go green. Come on now, make the change everybody wants to see.

Peace, love and uber green pizza,

What On Earth

One new, recycled kitchen coming up!

We set ourselves a challenge here at What On Earth and we’re pleased to report that it’s going well – so far anyway. We’re rather proud of ourselves in this challenge so we want you to see our progress.

The past few years have been extremely successful ones for us and as a result the business is growing rapidly. (Thank you to everyone for that by the way!) Our orders have more than doubled and our customer base has become larger, which has ultimately seen labour increase as well. To deal with this growth we are expanding the business physically and are developing a new kitchen at our London HQ. It’s not going to be just any kitchen though. Oh no. It is in fact going to be made of all recycled and re-engineered materials. We are advocates of being environmentally friendly, both in and out of work, so we think it only right that our ethos should be followed throughout all of our business developments.

Work on the kitchen got underway at the beginning of June and it is all coming along nicely. The kitchen is being developed in a unit on our Battersea based business park – just across the forecourt from our current kitchen in fact. All the materials being used to build the kitchen have had a previous life elsewhere, and now we are giving them a new lease of life by recycling them. Examples of the recycled materials include:

• Re-engineered racking bars are being used to form the skeleton of the kitchen
• The staffroom is made from recycled wood panels
• The windows, doors and door frames are recycled from an old office building
• An unused loading door hatch is being utilised
• Old baking trays are being used as vents
• An old refrigeration evaporator is being used in a fan unit to circulate air around the kitchen

By using these materials we are having a positive impact on both the environment and our budget – we are reducing waste, increasing sustainability and saving essential cash. We will ensure that all the recycled materials abide by health and safety rules too. We will clad them all in white fireproof, food safe plastic.

The recycled materials have been hunted down by our eco hero, Rolf. He has spent a lot of time traipsing around London looking for bits to use, but in all honesty he’s absolutely loved this – he’s been in his element. He loves doing his bit to save the world and all of this good work means he’s pretty much ready to don a cape, mask and a pair of tights. Perhaps not the most pretty sight (sory Rolf!) but hey, he would still wear his costume with pride.

Developing the kitchen using recycled materials means we are able to save money that can be spent elsewhere. To be more specific, we are spending the money on energy efficient equipment for the kitchen – i.e. equipment that does its bit to save the environment. By installing this machinery we are avoiding unnecessary energy waste. Reducing energy usage can translate to significant cost savings. We can reduce maintenance costs on equipment and have lower running expenses. Also, the energy efficient equipment has a longer lifespan and can help create better and consistent food quality and less food spoilage. The environmental benefits of resource conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are also substantial, reducing the company’s impact on the environment. All these savings allow us to reduce labour costs, thereby meaning we can reduce the prices of our products. See – everybody benefits from our new kitchen! Among the new equipment will be new ovens and pizza presses. As a result of this we are going to look at re-introducing chilled pizzas. Hurrah!

The new kitchen is to be completed and fully functioning by the end of June so we will post updated photos next month. Eeeek, exciting!

Peace, love and brand new kitchen cooked pizza.

What On Earth

We're hiring!

We have three new job vacancies at our London HQ that we want to fill as soon as possible – driver, kitchen assistant and food techincal co-ordinator.

If you’d like to come and work for a fun loving, innovative and rapidly growing company (yes, that’s us!) and you think you have the necessary qualifications and experience to fulfill the below roles then please get in touch. Our contact details are at the bottom of this blog post.

 

Driver – 40 hours a week
Description:

• Communicating with the Logistics & Warehouse Manager on customer questions and/or issues; prepare driver notes as needed
• Loading, unloading and moving goods. Daily picking and loading
• Completing daily log books
• Overseeing vehicle and warehouse maintenance: reporting faults, checking vehicle brakes, controls, fuel content on daily basis
• Maintaining all relevant financial, HACCP and organic certification records
• Up-to-date and accurate process recording
• Adhering to organic certification rules and Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Regulations
• Effective communication between members of staff
• Ensuring any changes to delivery schedule are communicated to Logistics & Warehouse Manager
• Promoting a positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be open to input from all members of the team
• Promoting good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Reducing overhead costs through conservative use of company resources
• Supporting and cooperating with management and department staff

Requirements:

• At least 12 months experience as a driver
• Have to be able to carry and move heavy goods in the freezer
• Clean EU Driver's License
• Good knowledge of the area and ability to read maps and use technology

Kitchen Assistant – 40 hours a week
Description:

• Food preparation and manufacturing of products in accordance with general and product HACCP, SALSA food safety practices and Health and Safety rules and regulations
• Ensuring work stations are clean and hygienic at all times
• Adhere to personal hygiene policy
• Ensuring all waste is disposed correctly and put in appropriate recycling bins provided
• Adhere to company Quality Control System and conduct testing prior to release of product. Keeping record of such tests and library of samples
• Ensure appropriate “use by” and “best before” date label is attached to each product according to specification
• Effective communication between members of staff and to relevant departments
• Ensuring that if applied in the kitchen, an appropriate shelf life date is used
• Producing food up to company spec. ongoing quality control and informing/reacting to any changes to raw ingredients that might affect quality and change of recipes
• Strictly follow deadline for the daily production as specifies by supervisor/ manager
• Follow the recipe and method stated on the production card
• Assist supervisor & production manager in any task associated with producing, packaging, labelling & storing of food.

Requirements:

• Available to start ASAP
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to promote positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be opened for input from all members of the team
• Able to promote good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Willing to undergo training
• Flexible and Good attention to detail
• Punctual and a team player
• People person, “can do” attitude, optimistic, “cool head” personality

Qualifications & Experience:

• Have at least 12 months of quality experience as a Kitchen Assistant working in busy catering industry-preferred experience of food manufacturing industry
• Good knowledge of industry standards (HACCP)
• Knowledge of organic market an advantage
• CIEH Food safety qualification would be an advantage

Food Technical Co-ordinator – 2 days per week
Description:

• Ensure all technical standards are met by communicating with department managers
• Maintain technical documentation (ie specs, traceability records), update them it needed and have it available to customers
• Answer all customer technical queries
• Participate in Product Development projects
• Conduct internal audits and HACCP checks, Quality control checks
• Assist third – party auditors, EHO`s and any other inspectors during their audits
• Design labels and keep them in line with EU legislation, Organic standard and good practice
• Conducting tests when needed

Requirements:

• Available to start with us ASAP
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to promote positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be opened for input from all members of the team
• Able to promote good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Willing to undergo training
• Flexible & good attention to detail
• Punctual & a team player
• People person, “can do” attitude, optimistic, “cool head” personality

Qualifications & Experience:

• Have relevant quality experience in busy catering industry-preferred experience of food manufacturing industry
• Good knowledge of industry standards (HACCP)
• Knowledge of organic market is an advantage
• Food technology degree, or any other food technology qualification, HACCP qualification level 3 preferable

 

How to Apply:
If you’re interested in any of the above roles please apply by sending your CV and covering letter to Tara, our HR Administrator, for immediate consideration – tara@whatonearth.co.uk

What on Earth Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. Due to a high number of responses if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks please consider your application as unsuccessful.

 

 

 

Our pizza tasting session at Whole Foods Market

On Friday 1 June we held an organic pizza tasting session in Whole Foods Market, Kensington. Between 11.30 and 14.30 we were handing out free pizza tasters to keen customers and let me tell you this – the people of Whole Foods were certainly hungry. They got through so many pizzas that in the end we ran out!

If you weren’t able to make it to the store last week you sadly would’ve missed this little event. BUT, because we don’t want anybody missing anything we’re up to, we managed to take some pics while in the store. I snapped both Anissa and Jeremy doing their bit and got some photos of our delicious pizzas. Check them out:

Anissa looking the part

Fresh from the oven - our Pizza Basilico bubbles away

Jeremy pretending to work...

We’ll keep you posted on the next time we do a tasting event – just so you can come along and get your mitts on some of our yummy products.

Peace, love and pizza,

What On Earth

We’re now quicker to respond than ever before

We may be slow on occasions but we still like to keep up with the times. We like to be down with the ‘kids’; we like to be hip to the hop. Mmm, ok so maybe the street talk doesn’t suit us but we feel being modern does. That’s why we’ve decided to embrace technology and enter the world of QR codes. We’ve magically plucked our very own QR code straight out of the technological air and we’re going to put it on all our retail products. That includes our organic pizzas, cheesecakes, berry pouches and ambient goods.

For those who are unsure as to what a QR code, here’s a short lowdown. QR stands for Quick Response. A QR code is a 2 dimensional bar code used to transfer information through mobile phone barcode readers. Those with a smart phone can scan the code to access company information. I’ll even give you a little history now – QR codes were created in Japan by Tokyo-based Toyota. Yep, that is the car company, although to be precise the codes were created by a subsidiary of Toyota. The technology was originally created to identify car engines. Right, that’s the lesson over now.

Stacks of our QR codes printed and ready to go

If you guys scan our QR code you’ll be taken to our website where you can find out more about us and our products. You can also read our blog and find out where our shops are. You’ll even be able to read this blog post about QR codes when you’ve scanned the QR code that we’re talking about in this blog. Ha! You follow?

We feel that in an age where packaging should be kept to a minimum, QR codes are perfect for providing lots of detail in a tiny amount of space. Our pizza boxes already contain fun information about us but the QR codes will just allow you to find out that little bit extra. We have become a lot more active in the social media world over the past few months so trying out the QR codes seems a natural progression in terms of our now technological minds.

Our QR code. When scanned this will take people to our website

What’s more it seems we’re a little ahead of the game in our mission to add QR codes to our products. A large article was published in Food Manufacture magazine on the benefits of QR codes – after we’d got our codes printed. The piece also predicted that more and more food producers and supermarkets will use QR code labels. Well I never, maybe we’re more ahead of the times than we first thought!

Keep your eyes peeled for our newly coded packaging and please do give the codes a scan when you see them. We’d love to know where and when you see them so do let us know via Facebook or Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Peace, love and QR coded pizza,

What On Earth

It's like Piccadilly Circus down there...oh yeah, that's because it is

As a proud supplier of Whole Foods market we were lucky enough to have a sneak preview of their brand new store that opens in Piccadilly tomorrow. We were even allowed to lunch on some of the delicious food that will be on offer in the store. It was amazing and we were like children in a sweet shop. We wanted to sample everything but we were restrained in what we picked. Well, most of us were anyway. Jeremy and I got a regular sized plate of food each. Rolf got two plates… No surprise there then. He’ll take anything that’s going that one!

Based in the heart of Piccadilly, the new Whole Foods Market is in a prime location and is housed in a large building on its own pedestrianised area. It looks very grand and is bound to be popular with tourists and city workers alike, as well as London residents who may be taking a stroll in the area after shopping on nearby Regent Street and Carnaby Street. It’s ideal. If I worked near there I’d be in every day. And I tell you what, I wouldn’t only just buy What On Earth food either!

Talking of which, the What On Earth food that will be in store will include both retail products and ingredients. Obviously you won’t get to see the ingredients as such (y’know, because they’re in things!) but you will see our lovely retail items on the shelves. Keep your eyes peeled for our organic pizzas, organic cheesecakes and our organic ambient items. This is what they look like, just in case you’d forgotten.

As well as branded food products, the store also has fresh self-service food bars, smoothie and coffee bars, home wares and even a macaroon tower. It’s great! They have included lots of places to sit as well, so customers like you can enjoy your food inside the store rather than take it away. But you can take it away too, y’know if you want to. They don’t make you stay inside.

 

The store opens tomorrow – Tuesday 22 May. But, if you are unable to make it down there and can’t wait any longer to see what the place looks like then check out the following photos. They’re our way of giving you a sneak preview of our sneak preview. Clever huh?

So there we have it. That was your sneak preview of our sneak preview. The place is looking pretty good huh? If you like what you see you should certainly get down to Piccadilly Circus as soon as you can so you can see the new store in all its glory.

I’ll see you down there!

Peace, love and brand new Whole Foods Market Piccadilly Circus pizza.

What On Earth