FDBusiness.com

A dedicated gluten-free bakery has triumphed at the Welsh Business Awards, organised by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, in association with the University of South Wales. Welsh Hills Bakery was the joint winner of the Success through Overseas Trade category.

The third-generation bakery based in Aberdare, South Wales started making gluten-free cakes and pastry pies in 2001, and developed a brand of gluten-free products, branded Lovemore Free From Foods in 2008. The business was the first to supply two of the UK’s major supermarket chains with its own gluten free products, and its customer portfolio now includes Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose.

The bakery’s international success has come as a result of the company’s recognition of a gap in the market for gluten-free goods overseas. Welsh Hills Bakery invested in various methods of research to target new markets, with management visiting overseas locations to establish potential opportunities for the Lovemore product range.

In the last two years, the business has achieved notable success across Europe, supplying 25 different ranges of cakes and biscuits to countries across the continent including Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Malta, France and Germany. The business now supplies its produce to the USA and the Middle East, and is also initiating further export opportunities in China and Australia.

To ensure its technology and equipment is world-class, the bakery has spent £100,000 over the last two years into its factory based in Hirwaun.

Resulting from the focus on overseas markets, Welsh Hill Bakery’s export business has grown by 15% over the past 24 months, adding to the company’s turnover of £5 million last year.

Now in their fourteenth year, the Welsh Business Awards reflect the efforts of businesses and individuals throughout the whole of 2015.