Bank cash boosts jobs at The Dairy Kompany

The Dairy Kompany, based in Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate, has hired five staff and hopes to recruit more as demand grows for its services.

The new jobs, in sales, logistics, finance, marketing and administration and supplier businesses, have been created by the firm after it gained funding from Yorkshire Bank’s Harrogate Financial Solutions Centre (FSC).

The Dairy Kompany’s two directors have more than 30 years’ combined food-services sector experience.

The firm is launching its new product range which includes butter, cheese and dairy powders, to help its customers to exploit new market opportunities.

The Dairy Kompany directors Louise Hewson and Brendan Scanlon, who launched the business a year ago, source British Retail Consortium (BRC)-standard dairy products from a range of suppliers across Britain and Europe.

They deliver to more than 70 major food service companies throughout the UK.

Mr Scanlon said that the company was set to increase its market share in 2012.

The directors plan to use their industry knowledge to identify and supply new products, which have been created through several food-processing companies in the UK and The Republic of Ireland.

The business, which sources and supplies cheeses, butters, dairy powders, egg-based products and bottled water, believes its expansion will create jobs in businesses to which it outsources services.

Foods can be supplied in customer-branded packaging or in The Dairy Kompany’s own “Darley” label brand which has just been launched.

Mr Scanlon said: “Our business is about focusing on our customers’ needs and finding new solutions for them.

“We are among very few UK niche businesses in this sector who add supply-chain value by using our experience to identify new market opportunities for our customers.

“We work with our supplier partners to source or create the right products for them.

“We have already achieved this with our current range. Our customers find it very useful.

“It helps because we become part of their business development (programme), rather than just a supplier of goods which helps sustain customer loyalty.”

The Dairy Kompany’s funding package from Yorkshire Bank includes invoice finance, multi-currency facilities and funding and ancillary support.

Yorkshire Bank Harrogate FSC business partner, Andy Hay, said yesterday: “Experience and knowledge are crucial in the food industry and we’re pleased to support a forward–thinking, niche enterprise such as The Dairy Kompany which is set to grow through its highly-commercial, added-value approach to business.”

The Investing for Growth Initiative also enables businesses to take loan repayment holidays, interest-only repayments and extended loan and credit terms to help them take advantage of quality growth opportunities.

Businesses taking up the package can re-invest the cash into their operation for expansion, new staff, equipment, machinery and commercial development.

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