A handful of produce companies have been featured in The Sunday Times International Track 200 list that recognises the fastest growing international companies in the UK.
Nationwide Produce leads the charge at 71st and features in the list for the second time running.
The firm is among the most diverse in the UK industry, growing, grading, packing, buying and selling fresh produce to some 600 customers worldwide across retail, foodservice, wholesale and processing.
Group managing director Tim O’Malley said: “This is recognition of the fantastic growth we have achieved in international sales in the past two years, which grew from £7.5 million in 2009 to nearly £18m in 2011, averaging a 55 per cent increase per annum.
"As a business we adopted a strategy to develop our European business in sales and procurement, and that planning has really paid dividends.”
The company was founded in Lancashire in 1975 by O’Malley’s parents and run from a small room in the family home.
Patrick O’Malley, group director, said the opening of wholly owned overseas branches has made a real difference.
He said: “Our branches in Rotterdam and Almeria were originally set up solely to improve our procurement in these areas. However, having a wholly owned presence in these markets led to us generating sales as well.
"The establishment of the Belfast and Emmen branches has also been a major factor in driving overseas sales growth. When we opened our first overseas office in Rotterdam in 2004, international sales were £667,000. Last year this figure was £17.8m, which is a 27-fold increase in eight years. Group turnover is also up from £31m in 2004 to £75m.”
Meanwhile, Haygrove was ranked 127th as international sales have grown 33 per cent a year, from £7.8m in 2008 to £13.8m in 2010. And Yorkshire potato marketing company Higgins achieved a listing at number 185.
It has expanded with exports into Russia and other eastern European destinations and seed potato sendings reaching markets as far afield as Vietnam and Thailand.
International sales grew 23 per cent a year from an annualised £8.2m in 2009 to £12.5m in 2011.
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