International branded bakery business Carrs Foods is celebrating a thriving year of business with a string of achievements and new product launches. This has been topped off by being crowned Business of the Year at the Manchester Evening News Business Awards 2017.
For a small team of 23 based in Manchester, 2017 has been a year of triumphs. As well as it’s M.E.N Business award win earlier this month, Carrs Foods’ was also ranked at number 7 in The Sunday Times International Track 200 in June, thanks to its international sales growth of 279% compared to 2015, and a global sales turnover of £38m, and listed at number 18 in The Grocers’ Fast 50 in October.
Carrs Foods’ innovative approach to business has been recognised throughout the industry as it continues to develop and bring new and exciting products to market, such as its St Pierre brioche baguettes, which have launched this month (November) and Paul Hollywood’s ready- to-bake rustic rolls, which launched earlier this year.
As well as the extension of these core brands in the UK market, Carrs Foods has expanded its St Pierre range overseas with the launch of brioche waffles and sliders into the United States. The St Pierre brand in particular has experienced phenomenal growth since it launched in America in 2014 and is now the No.1 European Bakery brand in the US*. In addition to St Pierre, the Baker Street brand has been growing rapidly across selected territories in the Middle East and Europe, and the Paul Hollywood range has gone from strength to strength with the launch of new products in the UK.
On a local level, Carrs Foods has strengthened its support to the community by becoming the main sponsor of Manchester Rugby Club’s Minis and Juniors section and continuing its charitable work with local food banks, regularly providing food products to Wythenshawe Food Bank and Recycling Lives.
Jeremy Gilboy, managing director at Carrs Foods said: “We are extremely proud of our achievements this year, with our most recent award win at the M.E.N Business Awards our most coveted win to date. The business has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to cementing our position in the industry next year with the launch of more products, more award wins and even more community initiatives. 2017 has been a very exciting year, which could not have been achieved without our dedicated and passionate team. We hope 2018 will be just as successful!”
Carrs Foods was established in 1986 in Manchester, where the head office remains today. Its bakery brands include Baker Street, St Pierre and Paul Hollywood Ready to Bake breads.
* Source: Nielsen Brand Ranked Report, Total US. 52 weeks to 25/03/2017
