He said: "About six or seven years ago we decided that automation was a strategy we wanted to use. We have put in a lot of installations since then."In recent years large projects have been completed for household names such as Cadbury, United Biscuits and Glaxo. There have also been similar assignments in Europe, most recently in Spain and in the Netherlands.If your company has a similar story to tell it could be in the running for a place in the Independent 100 or the Price Waterhouse Middle Market Award, which chart the growth of private companies over five years.For an entry form, write to Julie Harwood at Price Waterhouse, Southwark Towers, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SY and return it by 1 March.. BEING A standard bearer for the British engineering industry is, Trevor Pemberton admits, "bloody hard work".

He approached two burly men to ask if their fish and chips were satisfactory."Ay", came the muffled reply."Is the service good?""Ay", again, followed by awkward silence."Anything else we can do for you?""Ay, lad You can booger off.". One person who complained was so startled to receive a call from the chairman that he dropped his mobile phone and then, in typically English fashion, apologised for complaining.In Guiseley, where they are made of sterner stuff, Mr Barnes learnt that customer care has its limits. Every restaurant table carries a customer comment card, addressed to head office Mr Barnes takes a keen interest in these comments. Such a huge contract ensures that the chain can lay down strict criteria. Overseas restaurants receive the same fish using containers.In each part of the world the company hires a firm of independent "mystery shoppers" to make monthly checks on its outlets. Trumpeting the qualities of Yorkshire and England, for instance, does not go down well in Glasgow.But what about quality control?Fish, the most important single commodity, is distributed centrally.

Ramsden's has a long-standing relationship with its principal supplier, which operates six trawlers. It also gives it the local knowledge of each franchise company about the peculiar sensibilities of their area. That gives Ramsden's leverage and royalties without huge capital investment. Suitable franchisees are sought and the company takes between a 20 and 40 per cent stake in their equity.