Member Article

Yorkshire Food business shortlisted in national business awards

Troy Foods, the Leeds-based prepared vegetables and salads specialist, has been shortlisted in the National Family Business Awards 2017 which celebrates and recognises the best in British-owned family businesses.

Organised and hosted by Family Business Place, the awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding family businesses throughout the UK. Troy Foods is one of just ten finalists chosen to represent the North East in the ‘Family Business of the Year’ category from hundreds of entrants in the region.

Established in 1928, Troy Foods is a fourth generation family business. From its humble beginnings as a potato merchant, it has grown into a £40m turnover business employing more than 400 staff as well as up to 200 agency workers in peak seasons. In the 1980s, the company moved into supplying prepared vegetables and now processes thousands of tonnes a year at its Royds Farm Road facility, supplying a selection of prepared vegetables for ready meals and retail packs in the supermarkets.

In recent years, Troy Foods has diversified into processing value added lines such as dressed salads including coleslaw, potato salads and pasta salads as well as mayonnaise and dressings. This operation, based at the company’s Hunslet facility supplies direct to the leading retailers and food service groups.

Last year, the company opened a £2m distribution hub in Stourton Link in Leeds and has also built up its range of own brand prepared salads and mayonnaise.

“As a family business with a heritage of almost 90 years, we are very proud to be recognised in these national awards,” comments David Kempley, CEO and owner of Troy Foods. “We believe that the company’s unique culture stems from our family ethos – indeed, we do all we can to make our team feel part of the Troy Foods family. We believe that without the entrepreneurial spirit and sense of belonging that characterises a family business, we would not be the UK’s leading supplier of prepared vegetables and dressed salads, providing the best service to our customers.”

Amalia Brightley-Gillott, awards director, comments: “Not only do family businesses generate billions in taxes and employ over 9m people, they are also some of the most innovative and exciting business around. What’s more, they are businesses of integrity and family values with a long term view for generations to come. We are delighted to see such a long-established and successful family business as Troy Foods in the finalists’ line-up.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at Wembley Stadium, London, on 15th July 2017. If Troy Foods wins the North East ‘Family Business of the Year’ category, the company will also be put forward for the National Champion title with the winner being announced at the ceremony.

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