Balance Food poised for growth in 2008

Savoury products supplier Balance Foods is poised to double in size during 2008 following an impressive debut year.

The Godalming-based business has turned over £3M since it began trading in November 2006 and claims to be one of the fastest growing suppliers of organic and fair-trade food in the UK.

Md and founder Christopher Lane said Balance was on course to increase its turnover to £6M next year. “Balance Foods is built on using quality people - recruited from the best in the industry, its expanding niche product range and its distribution base. Another area in which we are really strong is active new product development.”

Having quickly established a distribution base including the major supermarkets, independent retailers, health food wholesalers, over 10,000 cases are now being distributed throughout the UK each week.

The company specialises in identifying niche markets in the UK and finds British Retail Consortium-accredited manufacturers to produce Balance Foods-branded foods. Most of the current product range is sourced from continental Europe, where it is collected and imported by Balance Foods into the UK, where storage and distribution is contracted out in an attempt to reduce the environmental impact of the operation and costs.

The current portfolio contains 20 products and includes the first organic instant soup to be marketed in the UK as well as breadsticks and rice cakes.

Balance Foods is the first company to market a Marmite-branded product and plans to launch new lines in early 2008. The company boasts the ability to bring a product from concept to market within 12 weeks.

While strengthening business with supermarkets is a key aim for 2008, the firm also aims to reduce food miles and packaging.