Food imports business marks 50th anniversary with expansion

A FAMILY-RUN food imports business in Hull has launched direct consumer sales for the first time, and has purchased new premises and expanded its existing headquarters.

 
Hider Foods Imports was established in 1965 as an importer of dried fruits and nuts, particularly for Christmas gifts and hampers, and has since grown to a £27m turnover company with 100 employees, run by the third generation of the founding family.
 
To accommodate its recent growth and expanding product line the company has added a 15,000 sq ft extension on its existing building and purchased a 16,000 sq ft building on the opposite side of Wiltshire Road, Hull.
 
It’s expansion has been with the support of a six figure loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Duncan Hider, joint managing director of Hider Foods Imports, said: “As the company has grown we’ve expanded the range of work we do, including processing, packaging and distribution of foods. The new premises will enable us to bring all the processes under the same roof and provide extra capacity for the busy Christmas trading period.
 
“Last quarter alone we took on 250 new products, most of which are made in the UK, and we now export in excess of £2 million of goods annually and have launched our first direct consumer website.”
 
Mr Hider approached Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking to secure funding to purchase the new property, which was provided under the Government-backed Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS). 
 
David Catley, relationship director for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The new premises will give Hider Foods the capacity it needs to take full advantage of new growth opportunities in the coming years, and are a vote of confidence in its staff and the local area.
 
“The company’s success is a testament to the quality of its service and professionalism, as confirmed by its recent winning of Fine Food Digest’s Best Distributor of the Year award for the third year in the row.
 
“We have a wide range of support and guidance we can offer to businesses to support their growth plans, and under the FLS we are able to offer customers a one per cent discount for the life of the loan.”