“ Further supporting our goal to be the ‘ greener difference ’, we are currently redesigning our product packaging to reduce the amount of plastic used , replacing it with a lighter and more sustainable paper pouching system .”
Rich product pipeline
When Tom thinks about the future of the business , his projections are positive , despite the widely publicized challenges facing the industry . “ The supply chain is currently our biggest challenge . We have a lot of suppliers based in the UK , which helps , and we have great relationships with all of them . However , from my perspective , it is crucial that communication within the supply chain network is maintained , so that we at least have a heads up if there are any expected disruptions . Also supporting Rayner ’ s supply chain stability , I am lucky to have one of the best material managers in the industry : Darren Pruce . He has worked at Rayner for 32 years and is incredible . He and his team have maintained fantastic momentum within our supply chain through challenging times like during the pandemic where we experienced material shortages , as a lot of the materials we required were also being used in Covid-19 test kits .”
With regards to staffing challenges , Tom explains , “ I think that this has been an unfortunate side effect of Brexit . However , we are working with our recruitment partners to attract people with the right skills and capabilities to join our teams . I think for me , that has been one of the biggest changes . We know we are competing for great people in the marketplace but at Rayner we pride ourselves on being able to offer great jobs with a great working environment and the potential for people to grow if they wish . I think this really sets us apart from our competitors , making Rayner a highly attractive place to work .” Tom looks forward to seeing how far Rayner ’ s innovation will extend . “ We will carry on our initiative of launching new products every year . There is a really rich product pipeline with the ultimate goal of developing a lens that behaves like the natural crystalline lens in the eye and offers complete spectacle independence – that is considered the holy grail within ophthalmology , and I am sure we will achieve it ,” he concludes . ■
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