The ‘healthy’ popcorn and crisp maker was the only food firm to make it on to the top 10 list of the fastest growing private companies in the UK, which are ranked by the Sunday Times every December.
Metcalfe’s, which also made the list last year, experienced a sales rise of more than 200% to £9.1M for the year ending May 2014, despite the grocery market falling into decline, said md Robert Jakobi.
‘Fallen into decline’
“For the first time in 20 years the grocery market has fallen into decline, however, there is increasing pressure on retailers to offer healthier alternatives to snacking and we’re lucky to be in such a category with growing demand,” he said.
Metcalfe also founded the Asian-inspired restaurant chain Itsu, which recently launched a range of retail products, including instant noodles and other snack products.
“We spent a large sum of money trialling our Itsu crystal noodle cup range to ensure it ticked all of the boxes of convenience, health and restaurant quality taste,” Jakobi added.
Among other food and drink firms listed were Graze.com, which recently won the Judges’ star performer award at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards in November.
The overall winner was Dawn Meats, which also won the award for Environmental initiative of the year.
Other food and drink firms on the list:
- 13 – Cawingredients
- 25 – Graze.com
- 29 – Supernutrients
- 33 – Grenade
- 40 – Brewdog
- 53 – Bear and Urban Fruit
- 62 – Elmgrove Food
- 68 – Natural Balance Foods
- 79 – Naked Wines