Member Article

Stockport food firm expands with warehouse acquisition

Stockport based food manufacturing industry supplier EHL Ingredients has invested £300,000 to acquire a new warehouse next to its current site at the Broadstone Industrial Estate.

Following extensive growth in 2013, the company has invested in the 6,000 square metre facility, which will house ingredient blending machines as well as provide storage space for packaging materials.

EHL, which supplies raw ingredients such as pulses, nuts and seeds, arrowroot powder, dried fruits and oats, chillies to the UK food industry, produced its best results to date with turnover of £5.6m by the end of 2013.

This firm is now planning for further growth and expansion.

Sales and marketing director, Tasneem Backhouse, said: “We reviewed several facilities on the Broadstone Industrial Estate and in the wider Reddish area but as soon as this became available we put in our offer as it was perfect for our needs.

“The location is ideal and the size will allow for further growth and additional machinery to be installed which will assist us when handling larger orders and blends.

“We plan to install a new, larger industrial dry ingredient blender and machinery for our packed down facility for own label clients.

“We were delighted with our sales figures for 2013 as we hit our target of £5.6m. We’re now aiming to achieve a landmark £6m by the end of 2014 and our key areas of growth are predicted to be within our herb and spice blends and organic food ingredients.

“We have noted a significant increase in demand for our blends, especially of our curry powders, mixed spice, Chinese five spice and garam masala blends, as our customers are requesting bigger orders from us so the new facility and machinery will supports us in this area.”

EHL, which currently employs 22 staff, is now recruiting for several roles including a new product development manager, with four new positions to be created to help with running operations at the new site.

The company supplies around 300 food ingredients and offers a 200-strong organic range as well as more than 50 custom blends.

EHL also sell to speciality food shops, delis and organic retailers across the UK.

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