Training gets to the heart of Greencore Grocery : Welcoming and open culture replaces one of skepticism and suspicion

Purpose – This paper aims to describe a training program, devised and delivered by training and development company Courageous Success, which has transformed manufacturing at Greencore Grocery. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it has achieved. Findings – The paper details how the training had to help Greencore Grocery people to be: happy and more confident; better communicators; energetic and enthusiastic leaders; and comfortable with managing poor performance. The program also had to: support a cultural shift by running alongside a restructuring program; lift the performance of the operations function at the site; build relationships and improve ways of working; introduce and support a culture of positivity and non‐directive communication styles of management to deliver better performance; and introduce tools and processes to the business that could be integrated and maintained to support and embed the program learning and journey into the future. Practical implications – The paper reveals that, as a result of the training, budgeted profit was achieved and is now exceeded year on year; productivity is up 16 percent; waste is down 36 percent; cost per unit is down 8 percent; employees take ownership of their areas and responsibility for their teams; the culture on the site is welcoming and open; the emphasis on both skills training and individual‐coaching techniques has been identified as “best in class” by Greencore and the company, along with Courageous Success, was a finalist for Training Program of the Year in last November's Food Manufacturing Excellence awards. Social implications – The paper advances the view that employees learned techniques that improved their lives. Originality/value – The paper reveals how well conceived training can transform people's attitudes and boost business success.