Acquisition International - Issue 9 2022 17 Karen McQuade founded The UK Foodhall Ltd in 2007 alongside her former colleague, Robert Clark with the purpose of providing healthy food for schoolchildren. Having worked together in the school meals market for many years, they felt it was time to provide an assured British product portfolio for schools. Jun22305 he first few years of business for The UK Foodhall were a whirlwind, with the company winning many national entrepreneurial business awards and even being invited to Number 10 and royal palaces, in addition to being featured in the news and on TV. By 2011, it had become a very large supplier to the school meals industry, and was branching out into other markets. In 2012, Karen and Robert arranged the investor shareholding to join forces with Bridgwater Bros Holdings as their first joint venture, in what was an exciting move forward. A focus on innovation over the next few years saw the development of a multi-award-winning product portfolio and rapid growth of the company. Although highly successful, that’s not to say that any of it was easy. Karen and Robert worked seven days a week in the first year and didn’t even take a holiday. This clearly paid off, though. The company’s turnover in the first week came to £1.7m, rising to £3.8m in the second year, and £6m by 2010. Now, The UK Foodhall is dedicated to producing delicious, assured British frozen food, not only for schools, but also for pubs and T Most Innovative Food Production Businesswoman 2022: Karen McQuade Karen says, “We believe that food made for caterers should be amazing. Every day.” restaurants, always keeping the healthy element at the forefront of development. It never cuts corners with ingredients or skill. Its meat and poultry are British and assured by Red Tractor, and it also produces QMS, Freedom Food, Specially Selected Scottish Pork and Scotch Beef, as well as MSC certified fish. Even its vegetarian and vegan products are delightfully British. Ultimately, Karen and Robert are endlessly proud of their multi-awardwinning company and product range. The UK Foodhall is indeed now a trusted and key part of the British food industry, and it continues to innovate and work towards plans of growth, with its focus firmly set on serving the customer with the very best food and service. Company: The UK Foodhall Ltd Contact: Karen McQuade Email: thebuckstopshere@karenmquade.com Website: www.karenmcquade.com
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