Member Article

Harrogate wholefoods firm Country Products increases turnover and workforce

Harrogate wholefoods supplier Country Products has been able to significantly increase its turnover and employee numbers after an invoice financing deal with Yorkshire Bank.

Since beginning the invoice financing, Country Products’ turnover has increased by 14%.

Managing director Mark Leather has already recruited three new team members in 2015 and has hired 5 overall since the deal began.

Based in the village of Tockwith, Country Products has been trading for 32 years.

Mr. Leather of Country Products, recognised a gap in the market for high-quality, healthy snacks after returning to the UK from living overseas.

Country Products predominantly supplies to independent traders but its customer base, similarly to its product range, is extensive and includes delicatessens, supermarkets, farm shops, student unions, workplace vending machines, petrol stations and cinemas.

The invoice financing was arranged by Simon Kitchingman, business development manager, and Sarah Clark, relationship manager, both based at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Harrogate.

Mark said: “I’m fortunate in that during the 32 years Country Products has been up and running, 31 of those have seen growth but it has always been very steady.

“The invoice financing has taken a lot of worry out of the logistics and supply chain side of the business – I no longer have to worry about outstanding invoices and inventory build-up – my business and turnover are now growing a lot more rapidly and far more organically.”

Mark expects recruitment investment to continue, with the launch of another production line planned for later this year. Additionally, Country Products’ new and improved website will soon go live, with a section dedicated to selling directly to workplaces and schools.

Rick Warburton, head of Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in York, said: “Country Products is a prime example of an organisation freeing itself up from financial and operational constraints so that it can operate at optimum capacity and unleash its full potential. The invoice financing has freed Mark up to concentrate less on admin and more upon capitalising on the opportunities available to him.

“As economic conditions continue to improve, Yorkshire Bank remains focused on supporting the growth ambitions of North Yorkshire businesses.”

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