Andrew Ingredients to flour-ish in new premises

A FAMILY run ingredients business from Hillsborough has found the recipe for success as it moves its operations to new premises in Lisburn to meet the growing demand for its products.

Andrew Ingredients Ltd, founded in 1945 by Bill Andrew, has been located at Dromore Road, Hillsborough for the last 26 years. In 2008 the company expanded to cover all Ireland and with rising orders both North and South the premises at Hillsborough were no longer big enough.

The business, which employs 26 people, supplies specialist ingredients to 95% of Northern Ireland’s bakeries including Genesis Breads and Mother’s Pride. The current business turnover is in excess or £10 million per annum.

Investment in the new premises, worth over £1 million, will enable Andrew to double the size of their facilities to 24,000 sq ft and has been supported by Ulster Bank. The company expects to grow by 20% as a result of the move.

Tim Andrew, Andrew Ingredients Managing Director and son of founder Bill Andrew, said: “When my father started the business in 1945, his aim was to introduce new standards of support, expertise and service to the baking industry, and this is what out business strives to do today.

“Innovation has been key to driving these goals through the years. Our website is multi functional and provides recipe ideas as well as fact sheets with product information to customers. We have even introduced an iPhone app for our sales team so they have access to up to the minute information.

“We have helped many of our customers secure key contracts with national supermarkets and we monitor our service through a customer satisfaction survey to see how it can be improved, Our staff are really engaged in the business and low staff turnover means we can build really solid relationships with our customers which in turn generates essential repeat business.

“As well as our customers and staff, another important link in our success has been the support of our local bank, Ulster Bank. They have helped our business development and we see their investment in the new premises as a real endorsement of Andrew Ingredients Limited and our plans for the future.”

Susan Nightingale, Business Manager at Ulster Bank’s Lisburn Business Centre said: “We are delighted to have played our part in facilitating the expansion of this second generation family business. Having worked closely with Managing Director Tim Andrew to gain an understanding of the company, it was clear to see how important this move was in terms of driving the business forward, increasing profitability and ensuring continued success for generations to come.”

Andrew Ingredients Limited was recently shortlisted in the Ulster final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards in the food and agri category.