LycoRed wins UK government export award

Nutrition and fortification company LycoRed has won a prestigious Queen’s Award for International Trade from the UK government for its achievement in growing exports.

The awards citation praised the company for virtually doubling its overseas earnings over the past three years to £14m and exporting more than 70 per cent of its production.

According to the awards citation: “The company’s outstanding achievement results from providing the highest possible quality products, giving its customers full technical and legislative support and operating an energetic marketing programme in a wide spread of markets overseas.”

Export achievement

David Roberton, the company’s president, told NutraIngredients that he was delighted to win the award for export achievement. “We moved to a new factory in 2003 which allowed us to grow our export markets,” he said.

The company exports a range of vitamins, including A, B and C and minerals, such as calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium to a wide range of countries including Australia and South Africa.

It specialises in the production bulk, added-value nutrients for use in the dietary supplement; functional food and beverage; and nutri-cosmetic industries. Its product range includes natural carotenoids, such as lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene; vitamins and minerals; amino acids; and other functional ingredients.

To be eligible for entry, companies must be based in the UK, demonstrate commercial success, operate as a business unit of the UK economy and employee at least two full-time employees or part-time equivalents.

International trade

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to companies for achievement in one of three categories: International trade, innovation and sustainable development.

Another export award winner was food and beverage communications consultancy Barrett Dixon Bell (BDB). The Manchester-based consultancy won the award for expanding its business with clients in 25 countries in Europe and the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.