Success for North Wales food producer at Queen’s Award for Enterprise
8 May 2014 04:39 PM
A North Wales food
producer has recently gained worldwide success and recognition at the
Queen’s Award for international trade.
Plas Farm Ltd, founded in 1989
and based in Gaerwen, Anglesey produces natural, zero fat and low fat frozen
yogurt in a range of flavours. Its success at the Queens Award follows a
495% growth in its overseas sales over the last three years with the
company now exporting to ten countries across Europe, the Middle East and
Asia.
Funding from the Welsh
Government’s Processing & Marketing Grant has allowed Plas Farm to
build an extension and triple their frozen storage capacity. This has enabled
them to meet the growing worldwide demand for frozen yogurt.
Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies said:
“I would like to
congratulate Plas Farm on gaining success at one of the UK’s most
prestigious business awards. Their innovation and success has helped to
ensure that Welsh food and drink is at the forefront of the UK and
international stage.
“Attendance at UK and
overseas events continues to be important if we are to realise our
ambition for 30% growth in the Welsh Food and Drink outlined in our
‘Delivering Growth: An Action Plan for the Food and Drinks Industry
2014-2020”.
As a result of Welsh Government
support, Plas Farm Ltd has attended a number of large food trade events
under the Food and Drink Wales stand at UK and overseas, such as SIAL, Paris
and Anuga, Cologne.
Exhibiting at these large trade events has helped Plas Farm Ltd increase their
export sales from around 5% of turnover to about 40%.
To overcome the high
transportation costs of food products to develop it’s Middle Eastern and
Asian markets, Plas Farm Ltd have developed a powdered product, which has
quickly achieved significant success in Pakistan, now its fourth largest
market.
The company has future plans for
new products such as high protein frozen yogurts and dairy-free dessert
options, and hopes that these developments, combined with increased sales, will
lead to more staff joining the current 20 full-time employees.
David Williams, Founder and
Director of Plas Farm Ltd said:
“We’d like to thank
everyone, from the team here in Anglesey, to our customers all over the world,
for their hard work and support in building the business. We’re already
looking forward to how we can innovate, grow and help our customers lead the
European frozen yogurt market for years to come.
“Getting started in export
markets is a real challenge, but through the dedication of the Plas Farm team,
and the loyalty of our customers, it has proven to be an exceptionally
rewarding journey. We’re not finished yet, though! Winning the
Queen’s Award is just the beginning, and we have ambitions to continue
our growth both locally and worldwide."
Links
Delivering Growth: An Action Plan for the Food and Drinks Industry
2014-2020