Newry food firm aims for 30% growth this year leading the way in UK

A fast-growing Newry-based company has cemented its credentials as one of the UK and Ireland's leading food-to-go manufacturers.
Around Noon chief executive Gareth Chambers, right, pictured with executive chef David GrahamAround Noon chief executive Gareth Chambers, right, pictured with executive chef David Graham
Around Noon chief executive Gareth Chambers, right, pictured with executive chef David Graham

Around Noon, which employs over 200 people at Green Bank Industrial Estate, beat competition from the likes of Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Waitrose to collect an unprecedented three awards at the Sammies - the leading accolades of their kind in the UK.

The firm is a highly innovative and rapidly-expanding business, having almost tripled its workforce from 80 people just five years ago and continues to recruit.

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With clients including Starbucks and Henderson Group, it is on course to increase its turnover from £14m last year to around £20m this year.

The latest awards, which were presented at a gala ceremony in London, reflect the company’s strong commitment to innovation - Around Noon won the prestigious awards’ Innovation Category, Seasonal Category, and Overall New Sandwich of the Year award.

The accolades were for products by its Scribbles brand. The winning sandwiches were Un-bleat-able, featuring goats cheese, cranberries, sweet potato and mango and Sriracha Comin’ at Cha featuring avocado and mozzarella.

“I was appointed CEO in 2012 and since then we have been putting in place a programme of transformation that has seen us recruit well over 100 new people, grow our turnover very significantly, and win new and exciting business,” said CEO Gareth Chambers.

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“We see the award wins as an endorsement of our progress, but also an opportunity, due to the additional credibility it gives us in the likes of the London market. Currently, about £2m of our turnover comes from sales in GB, and we see a huge opportunity to radically increase that amount, which would have considerable benefits in terms of investment and employment,” he added.