In the last quarter of 2014 we began a new blog series called ‘Meat & Greet’ in which we feature highly-valued team members who help to make N1 the leading wholesale meat supplier in the Western Cape and Johannesburg areas. Today it’s the turn of none other than N1 CEO, Paul Youlten. Paul kindly took some time out from his busy day to answer a few questions:

You’ve been with N1 for a long time – how and when did it all start for you?

I have been with the company for 20 years. I started in 1995 – time has really flown by. And I began right at the bottom as a driver and worked my way up.

What are the most enjoyable aspects and then the biggest challenges of your role as CEO? 

I enjoy the relationships that have developed over the years between our suppliers and N1 Clients. And to eventually sign a top new client always gives one a thrill when closing the deal.
Every day is a challenge; you can never plan your day. There are always constant hurdles one must overcome – I suppose this is the norm in this type of industry. The biggest challenge is to achieve your budget and to keep the shareholders happy.

What is it that sets N1 apart and helps to make it the leading wholesale meat supplier? 

The N1 management team and work force focus on the individual client’s needs and requirements – we believe in personal interaction with our clients, going beyond the normal email interaction, because the personal touch is very important to us. We offer exceptional service; it is the key to the success of our company and its future. We also set very high standards and our company credentials on HACCP, ISO 9000 and ZA (export approved) Halaal prove this.

To ensure N1 keeps going from strength to strength, what will you continue to focus on, and what lies ahead for future success?

We continue to broaden the product range we offer our clients and we continue to develop brand awareness – for any business to succeed you have to create a strong and well known brand. Future plans are to achieve a national footprint within South Africa, while growth into Africa is essential to our export market. Plans are currently under way to purchase directly from factories around the globe – Kevin Munn will be heading this exciting project as Export Manager.

In closing, we want to thank you again for your time Paul and ask that you share something slightly more personal with us that we might not know about you.

Well I don’t like to lose as I have a very competitive nature – winning at all cost! I enjoy sport like English Premiership football (Liverpool) and rugby. I enjoy life and like to relax at home with my wife and two kids.