Meet the FORCE behind Andrews Meat Industries’ Transport Team
Mark Pitchen wasn't looking for a career change when he joined Andrews Meat Industries in 2021.
After 20 years in various supermarket management roles, his role was made redundant. Through a former colleague, Mark found himself behind the wheel as a subcontractor driver for Andrews.
He was initially wary about swapping retail for transport, but it didn't take long for that to change.
After just three months, Mark was already sharing ideas with the Transport Manager about how the department could work more efficiently. He put his hand up for a company driver role a few months later and by March 2022, Mark had officially joined the Andrews team.
It wasn't long before his management experience and knack for spotting opportunities caught the attention of Head of Transport, who offered him the Transport Supervisor role.
Mark got stuck into improving everything from driver efficiency and accountability to morale, safety and training. One area that needed attention was the returns process. Mark and the team introduced a new system with better accountability and traceability, making sure returned stock was properly accounted for and could be checked by Quality Assurance (QA).
He also worked closely with QA and WHS to tackle food safety and driver safety issues, particularly during summer, and helped introduce formal training and refresher training for drivers.
In 2025 Mark received the Award of Excellence, celebrating his consistent commitment to his team and the business.
It also opened the door to his next step. Mark was offered the role of Transport Manager, where he's now helping drive the department forward.
One of the big projects on his radar is the introduction of a new POD platform, Roadnet. It will automatically sequence delivery runs and factor in operating hours and special delivery instructions, helping reduce overlap between drivers and give better reporting on driver performance and costs.
Mark has also helped reshape Andrews' regional transport network. What started with four third-party logistics providers has been streamlined to two, improving service while reducing costs for the business and customers.
Andrews delivers across New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and Queensland, and Mark and the Transport team work behind the scenes to make sure the right products get where they need to go.
It may not be the flashiest job in the business, but Mark's approach is to roll up your sleeves and make it happen. That’s the kind of work and dedication that makes a real difference at Andrews Meat Industries.
