Food Manufacturing Excellence Award for Willowbrook Foods

Willowbrook Foods in Northern Ireland has won a prestigious UK award for manufacturing excellence in the food and drink industry.

The company, which is based on a family farm at Killinchy in county Down, was named Fresh Produce Manufacturing Company of 2017 in the highly influential UK Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

Willowbrook Foods was formed in 1968 by John McCann on the family vegetable farm. In 2011, the company invested in a new manufacturing operation and leading-edge Food Innovation Centre and is now among the most successful of its kind in the UK and Ireland.

The family business supplies pre-packed vegetables and convenience dishes to major retailers and foodservice organisations across the UK and Ireland.

The company currently employs over 200 people at its state-of-the-art processing plant near Strangford Lough, a conservation area.

The UK Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards reward all elements of the business of food and drink manufacture, including environmental initiatives, business change management, supply chain innovation, training, young talent and - put simply - superb teamwork.

The competition to win any one of these coveted accolades reflects the high standards found across the industry. After a rigorous judging process, the finalists gathered on 1st November at the glittering London Hilton on Park Lane where the winners were announced.