Partner Article

EHL ingredients? recipe for success

Food ingredient supplier, EHL Ingredients, has announced a new banking relationship with HSBC Commercial Banking as the family-run wholesaler hits its £5m sales target and continues international growth.

The new banking relationship will see HSBC provide EHL Ingredients with trade documentation and strategic advice to ensure smooth international banking operations and help support its growth plans.

Last year was a record year for the Stockport-based ingredient supplier, with overall sales up 20% on 2011, with further international growth planned for the next 12 months and beyond. Product development for next year includes additional allergen-free spices and seasonings, as well as increasing the range of heat-treated lo-micro herbs and spices. The team is also looking to develop and launch new innovative blends for the food industry.

EHL Ingredients supplies high quality conventional and organic products from all over the world to the food manufacturing industry including spices, seasoning, herbs, seeds and dried fruits, nuts, lentils and vegetables. It currently offers around 300 food ingredients and boasts a 200-strong organic range as well as over 50 custom blends. EHL Ingredients’ products are sold into the food manufacturing sector and used in end products such as breads and bakery items, ready meals, healthy snacks and soups and sauces. They are also sold to speciality food shops, delis and organic retailers across the UK.

Naseem Ul-Haq, Director of EHL Ingredients, says: “When we considered our banking arrangements, it was clear we needed support to reflect our international operations and future growth plans and so HSBC was an obvious choice. We are currently seeing strong demand for our product range, in part due to the long-standing popularity of international cuisines as well as an increasing trend for consumers purchasing spices to infuse low-cost meat with more flavour. We are optimistic that the ignited interest in flavoursome food will stand EHL Ingredients in a strong position for continued growth and success.

’We are delighted to have hit our £5m sales target and to be ending the year on such a high. We are confident about our progress as a business and have consolidated our position in this highly competitive market place.

Lee McCracken, HSBC’s Area Commercial Director for Cheshire and Staffordshire said: ’A local family-run business, EHL Ingredients is a strong example of a business maximising its international trade opportunities, seeing year-on-year growth of 20%, despite many companies in the retail sector facing economic difficulties. We are looking forward to providing banking support for EHL Ingredients as it continues to pursue its growth plans.“

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