Top industry export award for BFree Foods
Bfree Foods, a company which manufactures its products in Northern Ireland, has been recognised in the prestigious 2017 Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards, which feature some of the UK's most outstanding individuals, companies and campaigns, with many winners coming from the bakery and snacks arenas.
The awards attract big names as well as innovative start-ups from every sector of the food and beverage industry, no less so from the bakery and snacks industries.
Among this year's awards shortlist - announced in July - were companies like Mondelè„z, Premier Foods, Weetabix, Calbee, Kerry, The Bread Factory, The Great British Biscotti Company and Nairn's Oatcakes, to name a few.
Earlier this month, the final 21 winners were honoured in different categories, ranging from Apprentice of the Year, to Good Employer, to community and environment leaders.
Bfree, headquartered in Dublin and with its manufacturing base at Crossmaglen in county Armagh, gained the export award for its success in global markets.
Ian Wright, director general of the FDF said the awards are "a timely reminder of the talent and dedication in Britain's food and drink industry".
"Given the many challenges we face, it is essential that we continue to encourage and celebrate the strength of our vibrant sector, both domestically and abroad," he added.
BFree Foods is the third largest bakery brand in the Free-From category in the UK producing gluten-free and vegan baked goods, predominantly manufactured in Northern Ireland.
Since establishing in 2011, the company has aggressively expanded its footprint and now exports to the US, Australia, Scandinavia, Malta, UAE, and most recently, Hong Kong. It also plans to expand to Canada, South Africa, Germany and Spain.
BFree is listed in over 12,000 supermarkets globally and has six websites with localised content for each market.
"As a young brand, being nominated in a category with well-renowned international brands was a massive achievement," David Waldron, business development manager of BFree Foods, says. Export accounts for 60 percent of the company's overall business.
"We see this growing even further in the next 12 months as we look for further expansion outside of the UK and continue to provide new products that break the mould of the bread category, to a previously limited free-from category," he added.