Manufacturer targets 30% growth after winning first US export order
A STAFFORDSHIRE food packaging manufacturer has secured its first major export deal to the United States.
The deal is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to Norbury-based B&G Products and follows just four months after the firm took part in a Midlands Engine trade mission.
The company manufactures a unique innovative food pouch for the retail trade with local partners Sirane and TCL Packaging.
Its success follows the company’s visit to Chicago in October as part of the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) first Midlands Engine trade mission.
As part of the visit, Peter Ralten and Nick Baxter, directors at B&G Products, also visited Sun Centre USA’s factory in Chicago to source a new pouch machine to make the packaging, and agreed to invest a six-figure sum in new machinery with the US manufacturer.
The US export order will enable the business to continue its growth programme. Over the past year B&G’s turnover has grown more than 20% and, thanks to the export deal, turnover is now forecast to increase more than 30% in the next 12 months.
The company is also hoping to create up to nine new production jobs over the next 18 months, boosting the current workforce of 27.
“Everything has happened so quickly since participating in the trade mission, which is great news for us. We decided to take part because we wanted to show our newest products to the sector and also to source a factory that could provide the machine so that we could to assemble the new food pouch,” said Mr Ralten.
“Within days of us ordering the machine, we also received our first major export order and we are looking forward to starting production within the next few weeks and supplying our new customer.
“It goes to show just how valuable these trade missions can be. Without the DIT, our UK and US partners, this deal would not have been possible.”
Ian Harrison, DIT Acting Director of Exports & Investment, The Midlands, said: “This is a significant deal for B&G, which safeguards the company’s future and also enables it to invest in local jobs.
“We are particularly pleased that the trade mission was the catalyst for this export win because it demonstrates that visits such as these really do make a positive impact. We are committed to working with businesses across the Midlands Engine region to get them to start exporting or to be more strategic about operating globally. With our support, even smaller companies such as B&G can make an impact on an international scale.”
