Business leaders from across Cumbria gathered for a tour of Kendal Nutricare followed by a three-course networking dinner on Wednesday 12 July.
The event was organised by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, as part of its third Power 40 event of the year so far.
Kendal Nutricare is a leading manufacturer of nutrition products.
Their flagship product, Kendamil baby milk, is the only British-made formula and the fastest growing formula in the UK.
The tour started with a presentation by Kendal Nutricare’s financial controller Tim Hallam and project manager Grant Remington on the rapid growth the company has achieved during the last few years and its expansion into global markets.
Tim talked about one of the business’s recent exporting successes which involved stepping in to fill a shortage of formula milk in the USA.
Kendal Nutricare sent millions of cans of formula to the United States to help American families in need, earning them a mention in a tweet from US President Joe Biden.
Grant then discussed Kendal Nutricare’s plans to build on this success and meet demand for their product with the expansion of their Kendal site to include a second spray dryer, evaporator, bottling line and warehouse.
Guests were then given a tour of the factory looking at each stage of the formula production process, from pasteurisation to drying and finally canning and packaging.
Grant then showed attendees the sites allocated for the new spray dyer and warehouse as well as the new evaporator currently being installed.
After the tour, the group gathered at Carus Green Golf Club near Kendal for networking and a three course meal.
Eve Halliday, head of commercial and business growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “Thanks to Kendal Nutricare for treating our Power 40 group to such an interesting site tour. It was exciting to hear about the business’s growth and expansion at its Kendal site, securing jobs for people in the community and supporting farmers around the county.
“Thanks also to our event sponsor, the Department for Businesses and Trade (DBT), whose export support benefits so many of our manufacturers here in Cumbria, including Kendal Nutricare.”
Mr Hallam said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the Power40 to our facility for a guided tour and to share our growth plans with them.
“A very useful event to discuss shared the issues manufacturers face and how best to overcome these.”
Trade partnership manager at DBT Sarah Peak said: “It was great to be part of such a successful event and to see Kendal Nutricare’s premises and hear about their expansion in Kendal.
“Events like these are always a good opportunity to meet with local businesses to discuss the benefits of exporting and support available through DBT.”
