Business leaders tour fast-growing manufacturer Kendal Nutricare

For its third Power 40 event of the year, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce brought together business leaders from some of Cumbria’s 40 most influential businesses for a tour of Kendal Nutricare followed by a networking dinner.

Located in Kendal, Kendal Nutricare is a leading manufacturer of nutrition products. Their flagship product, Kendamil baby milk, is the only British made formula milk and the fastest growing formula in the UK.

The tour started with a presentation by Financial Controller Tim Hallam and Project Manager Grant Remington on the business’s rapid growth over the past few years and expansion into global markets.

Tim talked about one of the business’s recent exporting successes which involved stepping in to fill a shortage of formula milk in the USA. Kendal Nutricare sent over millions of cans of formula to help American families in need, which earned them a mention in a tweet from President Joe Biden!

Grant then discussed Kendal Nutricare’s plans to build on this success and meet demand for their product with the expansion of their Kendal site to include a second spray dryer, evaporator, bottling line and warehouse.

Afterwards, the group put on hair nets and overalls for a tour of the factory looking at each stage of the formula production process from pasteurisation to drying and finally canning and packaging. Grant then showed attendees the sites allocated for the new spray dyer and warehouse as well as the new evaporator currently being installed (picture on the right hand side above).

After the tour, the group reconvened at Carus Green Golf Club for networking and a delicious three course meal.

Head of Commercial and Business Growth, Eve Halliday said:

“Thanks to Chamber member Kendal Nutricare for treating our Power 40 group to such an interesting site tour. It was exciting to hear about the business’s growth and expansion at its Kendal site, securing jobs for people in the community and supporting farmers around the county. Thanks also to our event sponsor, the Department for Businesses and Trade (DBT), whose export support benefits so many of our manufacturers here in Cumbria, including Kendal Nutricare.”

Tim Hallam said:

“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the Power 40 to our facility for a guided tour and to share our growth plans with them. A very useful event to discuss shared the issues manufacturers face and how best to overcome these.”

Trade Partnership Manager at DBT, Sarah Peak said:

“It was great to be part of such a successful event and to see Kendal Nutricare’s premises and hear about their expansion in Kendal. Exciting times ahead! Events like these are always a good opportunity to meet with local businesses to discuss the benefits of exporting and support available through DBT.”

© Cumbria Chamber of Commerce