Oakland Appoints Distress Load Technical Lead Team Manager

Family business, multi temperature supply chain and logistics specialist, Oakland International, has appointed Eimear Scolard as the company’s new Technical Team Lead.

Tasked with heading their successful Distress Load Team, Eimear will oversee inspections, co-ordinating the team from initial contact through to load completion. With full HACCP training and a quality assurance background, trained in traceability and all aspects of food safety having previously worked at Oakland, Eimear’s prior fast-paced retail experience as an assistant manager and team leader meant she was ideally placed to re-join the company’s rapidly expanding Distress Loads Team.

Eimear commented: “It feels great to be back, with the attraction being the ability to grow a department in a role I really enjoy. We are already taking on new jobs, so it’s a very exciting time for us, and with the unpredictable nature of distress load work, we never know what’s coming in, so we need to respond immediately to incidents and contaminated loads of any nature.”

Oakland International’s pioneering Distress Load Management service is an innovative solution whereby food losses for customers, loss adjusters and hauliers on distressed loads are reduced significantly whilst offering additional environmental customer benefits. A distressed load is defined by the integrity of food safety being potentially compromised such as when pallets move in transit, incorrect temperature or clandestine infiltration. Oakland is developing an inspector training program which specialises in all aspects of food safety and clandestine infiltration.

Overseeing all inspections, as lead manager Eimear will be customer focused. Originally from Ireland, Eimear moved to the UK 2 years ago.

Added Eimear: “I have a great deal of pride in my work which reflects itself in many ways from how we work as a team to the standards of product going out the door, with my key skill being accuracy, crucial given the work we do. If you have a load issue and you’re wondering ‘is that something Oakland can deal with?’ the answer is most likely yes! It’s always worth picking up the phone and giving us a call!

“Working with distress loads can be challenging but it can also be very satisfying and rewarding when a customer needs help and within 24-hours we have sorted their issue and saved stock and have them back on the road and ready once again for delivery. I’m loving living in England and I have a wonderful career, so it’s likely I’ll never leave!”

A multi-award winner and a BRC double A accredited and EHO approved multi temperature distribution business, Oakland International specialises in contract packing, storage, picking, tempering, distribution and brand development support for to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets via hubs and facilities in the UK, Ireland and an overseas partner in Spain.