Ambitious growth plans

British-owned clean label ingredient specialist Ulrick & Short Ltd has unveiled exciting new development plans for the next three years, working to targets that include doubling its sales and the size of its UK headquarters, increasing staff numbers by 70 per cent and expansion into new geographical territories.

Ulrick & Short, which has achieved consistent growth in every year since its inception in 2000, has invested more than a quarter of a million Euros over the past two years into equipment, facilities and more staff to meet demand for its products. The company now manufactures in five countries and provides about 60 clean label non-GM starches, flours, proteins and fibres in advanced formulation technologies to food manufacturers for major retailers and foodservice groups, with more than twice that number tested and approved for consumption.

Over the next three years, the company is aiming to double in size thanks to market demand, its commitment to innovation, and support from a team of experts completely dedicated to the firm’s ethos of technical excellence and providing the best possible customer experience. It’s aim is to increase shelf life, reduce fat, simplify labelling and improve the texture and nutritional content of day-to-day processed foods such as baked goods, confectionery and patisserie, processed meats, soups, sauces and battered/breaded products.

Director Adrian Short explains: “At Ulrick & Short we pride ourselves on being one step ahead of market trends. For example, some time ago we anticipated a backlash against ever more complex labelling and the lack of traceability in foodstuffs – and our research during 2014 revealed significant consumer dissatisfaction in these areas. We have been addressing the increasing demand for our clean label non-GM ingredients, many of which are also allergen-free, by recruiting new technicians along with additional sales and support staff in 2014. From the level of sales enquiries we are experiencing, we expect that trend to continue into 2015 and beyond.”