Newry food firm beats M&S, winning three industry awards

By Iveren McCallion

Food-to-go manufacturer Around Noon is the one to watch after winning three UK industry awards.

The Newry-based company, which counts Starbucks and Henderson among its clientelle, beat deluxe food giants M&S and Waitrose to gain the Sammies.

The rapidly-expanding firm employs 200 people, having almost tripled its workforce from 80 just five years ago.

It's continuing to recruit and is expected to report a turnover of around £20 million this year.

CEO Gareth Chambers says, "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.

 "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 for our Newry base in terms of investment and employment."