The company, which is the European subsidiary of Ishida, Japan, makes weighing, packing and quality control technology received its award in the International Trade category to acknowledge its outstanding export successes over a number of years.
US, Canada, Chile, Australia
The firm has increased its exports as a percentage of total turnover from 65% to 76% by increasing its market penetration in countries like Russia, which now accounts for 20% of sales and entering geographic regions including the US, Canada, Chile and Australia.
The company has also created 68 jobs on the back of growing sales for its packaging systems. It can now use the Queen’s Award logo in its communications for the next five years.
Graham Clements, managing director, Ishida Europe, would not tell FoodProductionDaily what he said to the Queen merely that the award was a great honour for the firm.
“The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is a fantastic recognition for all Ishida employees who, with their hard work and dedication, have made a major contribution to our success,” he said.
“It also gives us further incentive to continue with our ambitious growth plans.”
Clements added from its establishment in 1984, the firm has always recognised it works in a global market and set up a business model including a product development programme, to drive its success even in the recent troubled economic times.
Company expansion
The company opened an administrative centre next door to its headquarters in Woodgate, Birmingham, this year, which will house its sales and support functions and over the past two years, it has increased its number of employees from 267 to 335.
Its portfolio includes multihead weighers for confectionery, snacks, granular products and fruit and vegetables; an X-ray system to detect small bones in meat and poultry; weigher/bagmaker combinations for snacks; and packing lines for fresh meat and poultry.
This year 162 businesses were recognised by the Queen’s Awards for international trade: 110 companies won Awards for International Trade; 39 for Innovation and 13 for Sustainable Development. The event also coincides with the 50th anniversary awards for 2015.
Click here to see the full list of winners