UK-based manufacturer Alvan Blanch has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2019 in the ‘International Trade – Outstanding Achievement’ category.
The awards, announced on Tuesday 23 April, are among the most prestigious business accolades in UK.
The Wiltshire-based company, which is a manufacturer of post-harvest processing machinery and industrial drying systems, has won the award previously in 2005 and 2012.
And it is the only company within the agricultural sector to have received an award within the International Trade category.
With regular markets in every continent, Alvan Blanch has focused on using its international trade to drive growth, while maintaining its UK customer base.
The company says that understanding the challenges and changes of fast-moving markets has been crucial in achieving its success.
The last five years have seen a large expansion in global operations for the manufacturer. It has opened sales offices and service centres in several markets in Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe, benefiting customer and dealer relationships.
Managing Director, Andrew Blanch says: "When we first won it 14 years ago we had managed £3 million of export sales, the award in 2012 reflected sharp growth of exports to £8 million, while now we have reached £12 million.
"Over that period, we have doubled our workforce to 120 and we have recently invested very heavily in manufacturing automation and in expanding our factory."
He added: "We now have a world-class manufacturing facility that enables us to compete in highly demanding global markets with our world beating products.
"But all of that has only been made possible by our 4-fold export sales growth over the 14 years between these awards."
