A COMPETITION designed to help firms improve the way their supply chains work has seen a big upsurge in interest.

Fresh Connection, an interactive web-based competition is run by specialist consultancy SCALA, based at the Media Centre in Northumberland Street, Huddersfield.

The annual competition helps high-profile brands to train staff and refine supply chain management processes.

Now organisers have added an extra event to their programme following a big increase in bookings for the one-day event. The extra event will take place on April 17 at Whittlebury Hall, near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

Major names in the manufacturing, retail, logistics and software sectors are signing up to take part in the contest, which has its UK finals on Wednesday, June 12. The UK champion will go on to compete in the global finals – in which 20 other countries take part – in September in Turkey.

The competition has also been refined to reflect the business and consumer risks from supplier problems and operational difficulties as well as changes in customer demand patterns.

SCALA has been working with Keith Newton, previously a director with Cadbury/Kraft, to make the changes.

Mr Newton said: “This is a significant new inclusion and further strengthens the Fresh Connection challenge.

Companies taking part in Fresh Connections now include Unilever, Kimberly Clark, Jordans & Ryvita, Westmill Foods, Mondelez, Mars, Bird’s Eye, Waitrose, Borg Warner, Norbert Dentressangle and FuturMaster.

Businesses can still take part by contacting Alison Hobson on 01484 437486 or emailing alison.hobson@scalagroup.co.uk