We are thrilled to announce Northumbrian Fine Foods has been shortlisted for the Food and Drink award at this year’s Made in the North East Awards 2023. It’s brilliant to be recognised as a major manufacturing employer in the region and it is a testament to the fantastic team here at our Gateshead site.
Northumbrian Fine Foods is excited to be exhibiting at this year’s Free From Functional Food Expo at RAI Amsterdam on 22nd and 23rd November.
Those attending the two-day event will be able to visit Northumbrian Fine Foods on the stand, where they will get the chance to discuss the extensive portfolio of great-tasting and quality gluten-free biscuits that the business produces for private label customers and our own Prewett’s brand, and taste some of its exciting new products. This will include its pioneering new product development of gluten-free Caramelised and Viennese biscuits for 2023 and a teaser of its upcoming partnerships with leading confectionery brands.
Rob Dawson, Sales Director at Northumbrian Fine Foods said: “The Free From Functional Food Expo is a staple in the free-from calendar and we are delighted to be attending again this year. The expo allows us to showcase our gluten-free capabilities and latest innovations with new and potential customers, helping us to drive opportunities in the underdeveloped European market. We are proud of our reputation for taste and quality and we look forward to meeting visitors from across the continent and chatting with them about our wide range of products.”
Northumbrian Fine Foods will be located at D56 in the Hall 5, RAI Amsterdam
North East based biscuit manufacturer, Northumbrian Fine Foods, has announced over 50 new permanent vacancies at its Gateshead based factory, after seeing significant growth year on year.
Growth has been driven by the company’s strong performance within the gluten free biscuit & cookies category, partly fuelled by increasing numbers of ‘healthy lifestyle shoppers’ choosing a diet free from gluten. The firm has also strengthened its co-manufacturing business, now producing on behalf of some of the nation’s best-known brands, all of which has led to sales turnover twice doubling between 2014 and 2021.
Neil McAndry, managing director of Northumbrian Fine Foods said: “NFF have outperformed the market increasing sales significantly vs. the same period last year and represent a strong driver of growth within the category. Driven by our role as a ‘centre of excellence’ in free-from production we have enjoyed increasing demand for our products over the last few years. As a result of this growth, we have made the decision to expand our operating hours by 20 percent, creating over 50 new roles right here in the North East.”
The roles, including bakery operations and office-based vacancies are being created as the company responds to increasing demand for their free-from biscuits and cookies from major retailers.
Northumbrian Fine Foods are recruiting for these roles with the help of their trusted recruitment partner, Westray Recruitment Group and applicants can apply by contacting them on: 0191 492 6622 or by email on nffjobs@westray.co.uk
Stewart McLelland, the Managing Director of Northumbrian Fine Foods (NFF), is retiring from the business, with Neil McAndry, the company’s Commercial Director, becoming the new Managing Director.
With the acquisition of NFF’s parent company, Biscuit International, by Platinum Equity now successfully completed, Dr McLelland (61) says this was an opportune moment for him to retire, as the company embarks upon its next stage of development.
He has been Managing Director of NFF for five years, during which time turnover grew from £15m to £33m, reinforcing the company’s position as the UK’s leading Free From sweet biscuit manufacturer, and now with a growing market base in Europe.
Neil McAndry (51) has 30 years’ experience in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) and joined NFF in 2014 as Commercial Director. Since then, he has been very closely involved in driving the growth of the business.
Neil McAndry said: “NFF has enjoyed an incredible period of growth under Stewart’s leadership and we all wish him well in retirement. I am thrilled to be taking over as Managing Director and look forward to leading the company as it continues to expand.”
Stewart McLelland said: “I have had a most enjoyable and satisfying time at Northumbrian Fine Foods, and it has been great to see the company doing so well. Neil is the perfect person for taking over as Managing Director and leading the company to exciting new opportunities.”
Biscuit International (BI) has scooped several prestigious Quality Food Awards (Q Awards) in recognition of the quality and innovation that lies behind their product range.
Aldi’s Sloe Gin Mince Tarts won in the ‘Christmas – Mince Pies’ category. Baked by BI’s Dutch based division Aviateur, these all butter mince tarts are generously filled with a rich mixture of fruits and sloe gin, and lattice topped with almonds.
Also winning awards were Asda Free From Extra Special Triple Chocolate Cookies, which came top in the ‘Free From – Sweet’ category, and Asda Free From Extra Special Christmas Cookie Selection in the ‘Christmas – Free From’ category. The judges were also impressed by Asda Extra Special White Chocolate & Lemon Cookies, which were ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Biscuits – Sweet’ category. All these products are manufactured by BI’s UK based division, Northumbrian Fine Foods.
This was the 40th anniversary of the Quality Food and Drink Awards, which celebrates excellence in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector. The awards ceremony was held on 22 November at a glittering event in London, with products rated on taste, flavour, texture, aroma, ingredients, value for money, innovation, aims in the marketplace, presentation and packaging.
Sarah Turnbull, Category Manager for Northumbrian Fine Foods, said: “We are absolutely delighted to participate in this year’s prestigious Quality Food & Drink Awards and thrilled that our products were chosen as winners.
“Innovation and new product development are the cornerstones of our business, and winning these awards is testimony to the hard work and dedication of our top quality teams who create and deliver our delicious range to full fruition.”
We are delighted that the quality and innovation that lies behind our cookie range has been recognised with us winning two prestigious Q Awards
Logroño, 30 July 2018 – Biscuit International, one of Europe’s leading players in the private label sweet biscuit market owning Poult in France, Banketgroep in the Netherlands, A&W in Germany and NFF in the UK, announces today the acquisition of Arluy, the fifth largest producer and distributor of sweet biscuits in Spain.
Founded in 1988, Arluy is a family company based in the Rioja region which has experienced strong growth in recent years. The company is now the fifth largest manufacturer of sweet biscuits in Spain, with an annual turnover of more than 40 million euros in 2017. Like other Biscuit International companies, Arluy supplies both own-brand biscuits and private label biscuits to its customers, who include key retail chains (70% of sales).
The acquisition of Arluy is a new step in Biscuit International’s development strategy which consists of expanding its product offering and geographical footprint both through external and organic growth. This announcement follows the acquisitions of A&W Feinbackwaren in Germany and NFF in the UK. With this new operation, Biscuit International reinforces its position as a major player in the European private label sweet biscuit market and establishes a solid position in Spain. Following this transaction, Biscuit International’s sales will represent more than 10% of the European private label sweet biscuit market, and Spain will become the Group’s fourth largest market after France, the Netherlands and Germany.
Biscuit International expects to leverage on Arluy’s products range, the company’s production capabilities, Arluy’s partnership with leading distributors in the Iberian Peninsula and the expertise of its management team to seize growth opportunities in the Spanish sweet biscuit market. The Spanish sweet biscuit market is estimated at over 900 million euros according to IRI and is growing at 3% per year.
The acquisition of Arluy will also enable Biscuit International to exploit cross-selling opportunities by offering Arluy’s private label and own-brand products to its European customers on the one hand, and its existing product range to local and national Spanish distributors on the other, in order to strengthen its partnership with them.
Following this transaction, supported by the company’s shareholders and management, the Managing Director and Arluy’s Co-founder, Mr Arturo San Juan, will continue to be involved in the developement and the commercial management of the business, alongside Guillermo Flores, former CEO of United Coffee, who will assume the role of Managing Director of Arluy. Arturo San Juan will reinvest in the capital of Biscuit International.
Giampaolo Schiratti, Biscuit International CEO, said: “The Spanish sweet biscuit market represents a real growth opportunity for Biscuit International. Arluy has a strong experience in the production and distribution of sweet biscuits in Spain, and the company is an excellent complement to our Group in terms of geography and product lines. This acquisition strengthens Biscuit International’s position as one of Europe’s leading producers of private label sweet biscuits in Europe and develops our partnership with our main European and Spanish customers.”
Arturo San Juan, Managing Director of Arluy, main shareholder and Co-founder, added: “This acquisition by Biscuit International is great news for Arluy. It will allow our family business to grow in Europe where we see significant growth opportunities in the sweet biscuit sector. Biscuit International is a major player in its market, and I am convinced that its project for Arluy will also strengthen our position in Spain by developing partnerships with our main customers. I am very proud of our achievements here at Arluy and through the hard work of all our staff over the past 30 years, we have created a sustainable and secure business with a great future with Biscuit International.”
In this transaction, Biscuit International was advised by Oaklinks (financial advisor), Simmons & Simmons and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (legal advisors). The Arluy management was advised by Cuatrocasas (legal advisor).
About Biscuit International:
Following the merger between Groupe Poult and Banketgroep in 2016 and the recent acquisition of A&W Feinbackwaren in Germany, NFF in United Kingdom and Stroopwafel & Co in Netherlands, Biscuit International became one of Europe’s leading private label biscuit players. The Group thus enlarged produces 130,000 tons of biscuits and waffles from 14 factories in Europe. Biscuit International generated pro forma sales of € 390 million over the last 12 months, of which approximately 60% outside France and employs 1,500 people. Biscuit International is owned by Qualium Investissement, a prominent player in the French private equity market with approximately EUR 1.2 billion of assets under management, and a limited number of French and international institutional investors together with the company’s management team.
About Arluy:
Based in the La Rioja region, Arluy was founded in 1988 by brothers Arturo and Javier San Juan, the third generation of biscuit-makers behind the previously family-owned company Marbú. With 200 employees, Arluy conducts 80% of its sales in Spain with the rest exported. 65% of the company’s products are own-brand and 35% are private label. Arluy’s main brands are Arluy, Reglero, Río Zahor and Flora (distribution), with a leading position in the Reglero market. In 2013, the company began an investment plan into a new and modern production plant. In the last 5 years, it has invested 20 million euros in this plan.