Quorn has worked meat-free magic for Marlow Foods which won a hat-trick at this year’s Food from Britain Export Awards
Marlow Foods, the maker of Quorn meat-free products, emerged victorious in this year’s Food from Britain Export Awards with a hat-trick of accolades. Not only did Marlow win the top prize - Food and Drink Exporter of the Year - it was also named as English Exporter of the Year and Frozen and Chilled Exporter of the Year at a special awards luncheon in London this week.
Excellence in all stages of the export process - planning, execution and marketing - ensured that Marlow really caught the eye of the judging panel.
“It has an impressive business overseas,” says FFB chief executive David McNair. “Exports account for 27% of all sales and are growing at a faster rate than in the domestic UK market. It is growing strongly in all its export territories but most notably in Sweden, Switzerland as well as, astonishingly, in the home of the hamburger - the US.”
There was another reason for the Marlow team to celebrate. Whole Foods Market, one of Marlow’s key customers in the US, was on hand to see the supplier’s success and pick an award of its own - as the FFB International Retailer of the Year.
In all, 17 awards were presented including three new prizes. The first of these new gongs, the Inspiration Award, aims to recognise the achievements of an individual within the export arena and was presented to Akbar Shirazi, deputy MD of Noon Products.
McNair says: “His enthusiasm for export is renowned and it is this passion that has seen one of the UK’s leading ethnic ready meal producers succeed across Europe.”
Also making its debut this year was an award for Best New Exporter, which was scooped by Blackwood Distillers. The Shetland drinks producer had another reason to celebrate - as it was also named Scottish Exporter of the Year. The final new award this year was for the Best Exhibitor at an international show and it was presented to Walkers Shortbread.
The other country winners were Pritchitts Foods, which was named Northern Ireland Exporter of the Year, and Radnor Hills Mineral Water, which won the award for Welsh Exporter of the Year. This year’s Marketing Innovation Award was presented to HP Foods for the work it does in taking some very British brands and giving them a twist so that they appeal to 33 different overseas markets.
In the category awards, Farne Salmon & Trout was Seafood Exporter of the Year; Mission Foods was named Grocery Exporter of the Year; Britvic scooped the award for Drinks Exporter of the Year; the Speciality Exporter of the Year was Green & Black’s; Weetabix was named Cereal Exporter of the Year; and North Downs Dairy won the award for Dairy Exporter of the Year.
The awards, which are backed by The Grocer, took place after the annual FFB Network Forum. There, new and well-established exporters could meet each other and, more importantly, with the FFB’s international directors to discuss the opportunities for their products in overseas markets. They were also able to listen to a presentation from Whole Foods Market.
This year’s awards kicked off with more positive news about the health of UK food and drink exports - which at the half year stood at £4.52bn, up1% on 2003. Exports to the EU now account for 65% of the total, with impressive growth in the Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium and Sweden.
And Gordon Summerfield, FFB’s chairman, says even more could be achieved: “Our research shows that there are still many market development opportunities, particularly in ethnic, convenience and high added-value foods. So the message is clear: let’s get out there and get our fair share.”
He adds: “This is a tremendous industry that has shown dogged resilience, which I put down to the determination of British manufacturers and the importance they place on developing highly innovative added-value products that appeal to ever more demanding international customers.”
Something that the winners of this year’s Food from Britain Food and Drink Export Awards know all about.
Marlow Foods, the maker of Quorn meat-free products, emerged victorious in this year’s Food from Britain Export Awards with a hat-trick of accolades. Not only did Marlow win the top prize - Food and Drink Exporter of the Year - it was also named as English Exporter of the Year and Frozen and Chilled Exporter of the Year at a special awards luncheon in London this week.
Excellence in all stages of the export process - planning, execution and marketing - ensured that Marlow really caught the eye of the judging panel.
“It has an impressive business overseas,” says FFB chief executive David McNair. “Exports account for 27% of all sales and are growing at a faster rate than in the domestic UK market. It is growing strongly in all its export territories but most notably in Sweden, Switzerland as well as, astonishingly, in the home of the hamburger - the US.”
There was another reason for the Marlow team to celebrate. Whole Foods Market, one of Marlow’s key customers in the US, was on hand to see the supplier’s success and pick an award of its own - as the FFB International Retailer of the Year.
In all, 17 awards were presented including three new prizes. The first of these new gongs, the Inspiration Award, aims to recognise the achievements of an individual within the export arena and was presented to Akbar Shirazi, deputy MD of Noon Products.
McNair says: “His enthusiasm for export is renowned and it is this passion that has seen one of the UK’s leading ethnic ready meal producers succeed across Europe.”
Also making its debut this year was an award for Best New Exporter, which was scooped by Blackwood Distillers. The Shetland drinks producer had another reason to celebrate - as it was also named Scottish Exporter of the Year. The final new award this year was for the Best Exhibitor at an international show and it was presented to Walkers Shortbread.
The other country winners were Pritchitts Foods, which was named Northern Ireland Exporter of the Year, and Radnor Hills Mineral Water, which won the award for Welsh Exporter of the Year. This year’s Marketing Innovation Award was presented to HP Foods for the work it does in taking some very British brands and giving them a twist so that they appeal to 33 different overseas markets.
In the category awards, Farne Salmon & Trout was Seafood Exporter of the Year; Mission Foods was named Grocery Exporter of the Year; Britvic scooped the award for Drinks Exporter of the Year; the Speciality Exporter of the Year was Green & Black’s; Weetabix was named Cereal Exporter of the Year; and North Downs Dairy won the award for Dairy Exporter of the Year.
The awards, which are backed by The Grocer, took place after the annual FFB Network Forum. There, new and well-established exporters could meet each other and, more importantly, with the FFB’s international directors to discuss the opportunities for their products in overseas markets. They were also able to listen to a presentation from Whole Foods Market.
This year’s awards kicked off with more positive news about the health of UK food and drink exports - which at the half year stood at £4.52bn, up1% on 2003. Exports to the EU now account for 65% of the total, with impressive growth in the Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium and Sweden.
And Gordon Summerfield, FFB’s chairman, says even more could be achieved: “Our research shows that there are still many market development opportunities, particularly in ethnic, convenience and high added-value foods. So the message is clear: let’s get out there and get our fair share.”
He adds: “This is a tremendous industry that has shown dogged resilience, which I put down to the determination of British manufacturers and the importance they place on developing highly innovative added-value products that appeal to ever more demanding international customers.”
Something that the winners of this year’s Food from Britain Food and Drink Export Awards know all about.
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