UK BEVERAGE MANUFACTURER WINS BEST FACTORY AWARD

UK based beverage manufacturer Aimia Foods, producer of hot and cold beverage brands including Galaxy Hot Chocolate, WeightWatchers Hot Chocolate and No Fear Energy drinks, has been recognised nationally for its manufacturing capabilities winning the Best Factory Award 2012.

Aimia supplies more than 500 customers in retail, foodservice, cash and carry, and vending markets with a range of its own brands as well as a branded portfolio and partners major brand holders with outsourced manufacturing services.

Aimia reported a growth in sales of 10% in the latest financial year thanks to growth in its key licensed brands, strong own brand performance and a major new outsourcing contract win with a global blue-chip client. Especially strong performance came from No Fear Extreme Energy, having the UK’s first resealable can, which recorded retail sales in excess of £7m. Weight Watches and Galaxy Hot Chocolate also performed very strongly. Aimia has recently added to the highly successful No Fear range with the launch of No Fear ‘Supercharged’ and is currently expanding its range of instant coffee solutions including private label options for packing in the UK.

The family-owned business, based in Haydock in North West England, won four of 12 national accolades at the Best Factory Awards, beating off tough competition from more than 100 UK manufacturers to scoop the main prize for Best Factory (overall), Best SME (Small Medium Enterprise), Best Household and General Product’s plant and Best People Management.

The Best Factory Awards judges were impressed with a state-of-the-art pouch packing line, added to the factory in 2011, which manufactures various packaging formats and provides options for Aimia’s own brand products and prospective companies looking for an outsourcing solution. Aimia’s innovative pouches, designed for the retail and out-of-home sectors, are capable of providing bespoke pack size and product solutions.

Investment has also gone into a new production management system, which has enhanced productivity as well as a state of the art agglomeration system which facilitates granulation of dry powder products such as hot chocolate for enhanced dispersability and consumer satisfaction.

Rob Unsworth, Managing Director at Aimia Foods said: “We’ve worked extremely hard with new investments, management systems and a constant focus on innovation for several years. To win the top British Factory Award for best factory plus three category awards is an enormous accolade and a credit to our very talented and hardworking team. Our aim is to make Aimia the UK’s leading privately owned hot and cold beverage business. This award coupled with the performance of our brands is taking us a step in the right direction”

To find out more about the award-winning Aimia Foods, visit www.aimiafoods.com.