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Ramsden International claim British Chamber?s main award

A leading wholesale exporter that is set to smash £56m annual sales this year has been named as the Business of the Year at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Chamber Awards 2012.

Ramsden International, which supplies a 23,000 strong range of domestic grocery products to over 700 customers in 120 countries, beat off competition from hundreds of companies to win the title, which is sponsored by Westfield Health.

In even better news for the Grimsby-based company, it also picked up the Outstanding Business Achievement award and a cash prize of £25,000 (sponsored by the RBS Group) to help it meet future business aims and objectives.

Over 500 guests were on hand at the Guildhall in London to witness the culmination of the competition, which is the flagship event in the Chamber’s ‘Business is Good for Britain’ campaign.

Joining Ramdsen International on the podium were eight other organisations, including an eco-friendly hair salon, an entrepreneurial funeral director and a global leader in temperature controlled pharmaceutical services.

The winners were:

? Austin’s Funeral Services’ Claire Austin (Entrepreneur of the Year)

? Biotec Services International (Achievement in International Business)

? Elan Hair Design (Sustainability)

? Freshney Place Shopping Centre (Marketing Campaign of the Year)

? Prism Total IT Solutions (Excellence in Customer Service)

? Simply Bows and Chair Covers (Most Promising New Business)

? Thomsons Online Benefits (Excellence in Innovation)

? The Trafford Centre (Commitment to People Development)

President of the British Chambers of Commerce Martyn Pellew said: “At the start of this year we asked businesses to show us why they are good for Britain and I’m delighted with how they have responded. “We had a record number of entries from all over the UK, with some excellent tales of innovation, job creation, growth and export success.”

He continued: “Ramsden International is a fitting winner of the Business of the Year Award and shows what can be achieved with a committed management team and a strong vision.”

Jill Davies, Chief Executive of Westfield Health, said: “Despite the challenges of a tough economic climate, it’s inspiring to see so many businesses going from strength to strength. None more so than Ramsden International which has shown outstanding and sustainable growth. The organisation’s focused growth strategy has allowed it to flourish, showing what a UK-based company can do when it has clear vision and a great team.”

The strength of its workforce has been a key factor in Ramsden International’s growth, with staff able to speak fluently in 14 different languages.

Between them they also have 240 years’ combined experience in international trade and this has been invaluable with the speed in which the firm is growing across Europe, Africa and, increasingly, the Far East.

The long-term aim for the company, who are members of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce Industry and Shipping, is to be recognised as the ‘world’s leading grocery wholesaler’.

Laura Ashbridge, Director at Ramsden International, added: “It’s fantastic to win both the Business of the Year Award and the Outstanding Business Achievement title.

“We will use the £25,000 prize money to put more of our employees through professional training, including MBAs and CIM qualifications.”

Now in its 9th year, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Chamber Awards 2012 are supported by the RBS Group, BT Business, Dell, DHL Express, Westfield Health, Club Wembley and Acua Limited.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .