This Month: Get to Know Karen – An Inside Perspective on Our General Manager’s Expertise

Here at Joseph Flach & Sons, we are proud of our team, each bringing their own expertise and passion to the company.

Today, we introduce Karen, our General Manager, who has been part of JFS for over 20 years. With a background in HR and finance, Karen brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and a genuine love for learning every aspect of their role. Let’s get to know Karen and their journey with JFS.

Can you introduce yourself and share your background?

I’ve lived around Peterborough my whole life, close to family and friends. Before joining JFS as General Manager, I worked in HR and finance for a major software company in insurance. Transitioning to the herb and spice industry was a steep learning curve, and even after 20+ years, I’m still learning something new every day.

What are your best personal qualities, and how have they impacted JFS?

I came to JFS with solid management experience in HR and finance. Over the past 20 years, I’ve gained valuable insights from both the founding Flach family and the Benton family, who have added so much to this company with their investment in systems, property and people. I’ve worked across most of the departments over the years from warehousing, procurement, quality, and sales and marketing, which has proved to be invaluable. As General Manager, I feel privileged to be in a position where I can support all of the Staff in their roles by offering guidance, sharing commercial insights, and keeping communication open through regular meetings and check-ins.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

I love the variety in my role—it keeps me engaged and offers plenty of opportunities to problem-solve and support the team. In recent years I have become very passionate about sales, this maybe attributed to my finance background. As a people person, I enjoy building relationships with clients, helping them solve issues, and finding satisfaction in the impact of our work and the rapport we create.

What are you most proud of at JFS?

I’m proud of the way our team works and their commitment to achieving targets. Our customer retention is high, which is thanks to each department’s focus on quality, service and customer satisfaction.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself?

I’m passionate about interior design and love making sure everything matches in my home and garden.

Favourite place you’ve visited?

Dublin. I love the buzz of the city, it is such an interesting place to visit, so much to do, the unpredictability of the weather (all four seasons in one day).  The people are welcoming with the added bonus of their accent!

Favourite meal?

Curries. BBQ’s are great too…

What do you do for fun?

Arts and crafts, karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.

JFS Specific

What is the biggest challenge for JFS, and how do you handle it?

Climate change and conflict are our biggest challenges. Weather affects crops, impacting quality, supply, and pricing, while conflict can make harvesting unsafe or impossible. We manage this by sourcing from multiple origins to maintain supply, and we keep staff informed through regular updates and training.

What products are popular, and why?

Popularity changes and is governed by many things. Our top 50 products are consistently in demand, including items like aloes, balm herb, cloves, golden rod, juniper, lavender, marigolds and peppermint. Trends also play a role, for example, psyllium husk is now used in keto pizza bases, and marshmallow leaves are a tobacco substitute. If a TV Chef starts using an ingredient then you often find that you receive enquiries for certain spices or flavours.

Your favourite product?

I have many, I like the smell of Ginger which is warm and spicy with its lemony top note, spicy Cloves, the freshness of Spearmint and Peppermint, and the fragrance of Patchouli.