A TENBURY business is expanding its operation and will be taking on new staff next year.

Orchard Valley Foods has also been earmarked as ‘one to watch’ in a top business survey.

Each year ‘The Sunday Times’ publishes a list of top performing businesses based on sales and also lists those businesses throughout the UK considered by experts to be ‘ones to watch.’

The accolade that is sponsored by Virgin is taken notice of by politicians and the business community.

Orchard Valley Foods based on the Lower Teme Business Park in Burford employs more than 50 people and is looking at further expansion.

This will include installing a new kitchen for product development, additional warehousing and extra office space.

It makes a range of food ingredients for the confectionary trade.

Customers include food manufacturers, retailers, food service businesses, home bakers and quick service restaurants.

It has benefitted from the increasing popularity of home baking.

Most of the business involves trade customers but there are also an increasing number of sales to retailers including major outlets such as Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda.

Orchard Valley Foods’ trade customers include household names such as Pizza Hut, Weetabix, Kraft Cadbury and McVitie’s.

The company’s manufacturing includes mixes for cakes, muffins and other bakery products.

Orchard Valley Foods sell throughout the UK as well as exporting to a number of European countries.

The site that includes three units also undertakes product development, blending, packaging and product development.

Orchard Valley Foods has been designated as bubbling under the main Fast Track 100 list and is ‘one to watch’ because of its potential through ‘clear strategy, accomplished leadership, dedicated staff and a great product offering.’

It is a remarkable story of success for the business that started as a home based enterprise and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary.

When it began there were just two employees but this has grown steadily and the company has created new jobs throughout the economic downturn.

“This is a fantastic gift for our tenths birthday though one which we have effectively created for ourselves,” said Managing Director Mike Forrester.

“We are current taking on staff to support our growth, at the same time finalising plans to develop the site in Tenbury providing additional warehousing, offices and a new product development kitchen.

“The directors follow a clear strategy towards business growth working in markets we know well in the UK and across Europe.

“We make our decisions carefully and quickly and have a flexible and well skilled team who bring our plans to fruition. I am proud of our customer focussed staff and the work ethic of our team most of whom live within five miles of Tenbury.”

Orchard Valley Foods has a policy of using local suppliers whenever possible and is now one of the largest employers in the Tenbury area.

The company says that Tenbury is a great area in which to live and work and that this compensates for the fact that it is relatively isolated and away from the main transport network.