Ice cream king Lambert crowned Entrepreneur of the Year
YORKSHIRE entrepreneur James Lambert of R&R Ice Cream, has been named Ernst & Young’s Overall North Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013.
Mr Lambert, who was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work in the manufacturing industry, has built R&R Ice Cream from a £250,000 business employing five people to one with turnover approaching £700m and employing almost 3,000 people across Europe.
Mr Lambert, CEO of R&R Ice Cream, won the top award at the Ernst & Young North Entrepreneur of the Year awards at a dinner in Manchester.
Clearly delighted at his double triumph at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester, Mr Lambert quipped that his win was even sweeter as he was a “Yorkshireman in the heart of Lancashire”.
He said that he was still committed to growing the business further, vowing: “I am 54 and I am not finished yet.”
Reflecting on his growth story Mr Lambert said: “When you start something the coal-face is there, and it keeps getting bigger. I remember getting the business to £10m turnover and thinking that we had got to the top of the hill, but then realising that no, we need to go further.”
He talked about how the team he built around him had stayed with him through R&R’s time on the stock market and then its return to being a private company with private equity backing.
He urged other businesses to explore and exploit opportunities in Europe: “There is nothing to be frightened of. We went first to Germay and the opportunities there are enormous, they have all the cash, which is always a good place to start.”
Also honoured was Stuart Paver, managing director of Pavers Shoes, based in York, who was presented with the retail award and he also championed international growth as he accepted his award, urging the audience to invest in India.
“The UK business is fine, it’s stable, but India is where there is the opportunity for us to become a £1bn company,” said Mr Paver.
Headquartered in Northallerton, R&R Ice Cream is Europe’s largest own label ice cream manufacturer and supplier of a powerful portfolio of branded products.
Stuart Watson, UK Entrepreneur Of The Year Leader at Ernst & Young, said: “James has been on an amazing journey. He has taken R&R from a start up to a pan European business. The story here is one of growth, growth, growth.
“There are ambitious plans afoot for R&R, with future international expansion plans beyond Europe, and the continuing launch of new products.”
Described as an ‘incredibly polished and extremely competent’ individual, the turnaround award went to Paul Stoneham, CEO of Leeds-based ghd. The judges described how the business was drifting when Paul joined. He invested in R&D and talent and attended to the marketing strategy.
Held at the Hilton Deansgate Manchester, the awards dinner honoured 12 business leaders in total, in 11 categories who were judged and selected from 48 entrepreneurs leading 41 companies, from across the North West, Yorkshire and North East.
All Northern winners will go on to represent the region at the UK finals in October, and have a chance to compete at Ernst & Young’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year in Monaco next year.
