Ishida creates 68 new jobs

14-Oct-2014 - Last updated on 16-Oct-2014 at 08:51 GMT

Ishida has invested millions in a new commercial centre and plans to spend more to upgrade its existing facilities

Ishida has created 68 new jobs at its UK manufacturing base, after doubling sales of its weighing and packing equipment over the past three years.

The Birmingham-based firm has also pumped million of pounds into a new commercial centre and plans to invest further to upgrade its existing facilities, Steve Jones, Ishida’s marketing director told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

Between 2010 and 2013, Ishida’s sales almost doubled from £63M to £110M, while exports rose to 85% of the company’s total turnover last year, said Graham Clements, Ishida’s md.

Sales increase

Such an increase in sales and export performance was fuelled by a change in the company’s business model, explained Jones.

“A lot of the change has been in fresh food machinery solutions – so, fresh meat and fresh fish,” he said.

“We’ve also got better products and are focusing more on new product development.”

The company, which employs 335 people at its Birmingham site, received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise yesterday (October 14) in recognition of its growth in exports.

Lord Lieutenant Dr Paul Sabapathy of the West Midlands presented Ishida with the award on behalf of Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony held at the company’s Woodgate, Birmingham, headquarters.

‘Centre of excellence’

“This award is recognition of Ishida becoming a centre of excellence – it’s increased its global coverage and has machines going to the likes of Russia,” said Sabapathy.

Meanwhile, the company would plan to boost exports further in the coming years, added Jones.

It would be his ambition to see sales continue to grow considerably, after sales this year grew by 20% on 2013, he said.

“In terms of more exports, if you look at the recent trade show Interpack, we launched 10 new products there and that depicts the environment that we want to work in going forwards.”