Malton-based Karro Food Group was crowned the top growth business in the country at last night’s industry-leading Food and Drink Federation Awards, having taken the Northern England title and beating off all other regional winners. The company was celebrated at the FDF Awards ceremony at London’s The Brewery which was hosted by television personality Hardeep Singh Kohli. These national awards celebrate businesses and industry professionals from across the food and drink supply chain. The category was sponsored by Grant Thornton UK LLP.
Karro Food Group is a relatively new business built on longstanding foundations. It was launched as a privately owned company in January 2013 following the purchase of Vion Food Group’s UK pork division by private equity company Endless. It is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of pork products to the retail, foodservice and export markets. Employing over 3,000 people, Karro has eight divisions in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The firm processes meat for the UK’s major supermarkets, wholesale and export markets, with full supply chain visibility and the company’s reputation for high welfare pork produce was forged through its commitment to breeding its own pigs at its farm in Brydock, Scotland as well as sourcing from farmers local to its operations. The business has seen exceptional growth over recent years, moving from an underperforming company to one that is successfully delivering strong growth and profits on a consistent basis ahead of target.
Ian Wright, Director General, FDF, said:
“The FDF Awards truly are a badge of excellence and demonstrate the huge potential of food and drink businesses in today’s industry. It is a pleasure to recognise Karro Food Group not only as the winner for the North of England but also as overall Regional Growth Business of the year for the UK.
The company’s performance over recent years and its turnaround is a remarkable success story and one that is an example to businesses across the food and drink sector. It demonstrates how a commitment to innovation and high standards, coupled with a strong strategy, can pay dividends for businesses across the industry.”
Trefor Griffith, Head of Food and Beverage at category sponsors Grant Thornton UK LLP commented:
“Grant Thornton is delighted to once again be supporting the Growth Business category for this year’s Food and Drink Federation Awards. We’re committed to building a vibrant economy by helping dynamic businesses like Karro Food Group unlock their potential for growth. We work with leading food and drink firms across the UK, so we’re delighted to be able celebrate the contribution businesses like Karro Food Group make to their region, the manufacturing sector and the UK as a whole.”
The 2017 FDF Awards will launch in November 2016. For more information on the FDF Awards visit http://www.fdf.org.uk/fdf-awards.aspx.
