Northern Irish food firms among LSE's 'Most Inspiring'
Three food processing companies are among six from the Northern
Ireland agri-food industry included in a major report by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) on the UK's 1,000 Most Inspiring
Companies.
The influential study lists Ballygarvey Free-Range Eggs from
Ballymena, Genesis Crafty of Magherafelt and Unimush Ireland,
Armagh, among a total of 21 companies from Northern Ireland.
Ballygarvey has been producing free-range eggs since the 1960s.
Genesis Crafty is now one of Northern Ireland's most successful
artisan enterprises with volume capability. It supplies traditional Northern Irish breads and other bakery products to multiple
retailers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. Unimush is a
leading supplier of stuffed mushrooms to retailers in Northern
Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.
The other Northern Ireland agri-food companies listed by LSE Group
are Mackle Pet Foods, Dungannon, Mount Charles Group, Belfast, a
major supplier to foodservices and North Down Grain in Newtownards, a distributor of farm products and chemicals.
The LSE report says "an insatiable appetite for the artisan, the
alternative and the adventurous is helping feed the success of the
UK's food and drink industry, a key ingredient in the nation's
economic prosperity.
"The UK's food and drink sector is the largest single manufacturing sector in the UK, with a turnover of around ?100bn. Whisky is its
single biggest export but the sector has a hugely diverse number of enterprises that are finding niches and serving new, evolving
consumer tastes and demands. The companies featured here have
identified these trends and are exceeding expectations with quality,customer care and innovative thinking."
Food and drink processing in Northern Ireland is a ?5bn industry
which employs over 100,000 people across an extensive supply chain. It is now Northern Ireland's biggest manufacturing industry.
Food and drink is worth ?21.5 billion to the UK economy and featuresalmost 6,500 small businesses.
The study highlights the UK's fastest growing small and medium sizedenterprises based on turnover and profitability. They have achieved an annual growth rate of 50 per cent.
Xavier Rolet, chief executive of London Stock Exchange Group said:
"High growth SMEs are the driving force behind the UK economy,
developing the skills, jobs and growth we need.
"But ambition alone is not enough; their success must be highlightedand their growth properly supported with appropriate finance. This
elite list demonstrates the strong alliance between UK Government,
financial market participants, investors, entrepreneurs and
companies to support these inspiring businesses."
Writing in the publication, Chancellor George Osborne says: "UK
high-growth businesses are leading the charge in rebuilding our
economy. These companies are the backbone of the British economy.
They create high-quality, well paid jobs, innovate and drive
economic growth. This government fully understands the need to
support ambitious entrepreneurs and ensure they can access the
finance they need to grow.
"We have held the steadfast belief that - alongside deficit
reduction - nurturing entrepreneurs, creating jobs, supporting
hard-working families and keeping taxes low would get the UK economyback on track. Our measures to increase access to finance for
business and encourage more investment have had a transformative
effect on our economy."
All Northern Ireland food and drink companies are celebrating 2016
as the official Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink.
Ireland agri-food industry included in a major report by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) on the UK's 1,000 Most Inspiring
Companies.
The influential study lists Ballygarvey Free-Range Eggs from
Ballymena, Genesis Crafty of Magherafelt and Unimush Ireland,
Armagh, among a total of 21 companies from Northern Ireland.
Ballygarvey has been producing free-range eggs since the 1960s.
Genesis Crafty is now one of Northern Ireland's most successful
artisan enterprises with volume capability. It supplies traditional Northern Irish breads and other bakery products to multiple
retailers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. Unimush is a
leading supplier of stuffed mushrooms to retailers in Northern
Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.
The other Northern Ireland agri-food companies listed by LSE Group
are Mackle Pet Foods, Dungannon, Mount Charles Group, Belfast, a
major supplier to foodservices and North Down Grain in Newtownards, a distributor of farm products and chemicals.
The LSE report says "an insatiable appetite for the artisan, the
alternative and the adventurous is helping feed the success of the
UK's food and drink industry, a key ingredient in the nation's
economic prosperity.
"The UK's food and drink sector is the largest single manufacturing sector in the UK, with a turnover of around ?100bn. Whisky is its
single biggest export but the sector has a hugely diverse number of enterprises that are finding niches and serving new, evolving
consumer tastes and demands. The companies featured here have
identified these trends and are exceeding expectations with quality,customer care and innovative thinking."
Food and drink processing in Northern Ireland is a ?5bn industry
which employs over 100,000 people across an extensive supply chain. It is now Northern Ireland's biggest manufacturing industry.
Food and drink is worth ?21.5 billion to the UK economy and featuresalmost 6,500 small businesses.
The study highlights the UK's fastest growing small and medium sizedenterprises based on turnover and profitability. They have achieved an annual growth rate of 50 per cent.
Xavier Rolet, chief executive of London Stock Exchange Group said:
"High growth SMEs are the driving force behind the UK economy,
developing the skills, jobs and growth we need.
"But ambition alone is not enough; their success must be highlightedand their growth properly supported with appropriate finance. This
elite list demonstrates the strong alliance between UK Government,
financial market participants, investors, entrepreneurs and
companies to support these inspiring businesses."
Writing in the publication, Chancellor George Osborne says: "UK
high-growth businesses are leading the charge in rebuilding our
economy. These companies are the backbone of the British economy.
They create high-quality, well paid jobs, innovate and drive
economic growth. This government fully understands the need to
support ambitious entrepreneurs and ensure they can access the
finance they need to grow.
"We have held the steadfast belief that - alongside deficit
reduction - nurturing entrepreneurs, creating jobs, supporting
hard-working families and keeping taxes low would get the UK economyback on track. Our measures to increase access to finance for
business and encourage more investment have had a transformative
effect on our economy."
All Northern Ireland food and drink companies are celebrating 2016
as the official Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink.