FDBusiness.com

Elaine Willis, one of Linden Food’s senior managers, has been named Young Manager of the Year in the Meat Management Industry Awards 2011. Aged 29, Elaine Willis (pictured) currently holds the positions of head of innovation as well as business development manager at the meat processing company.

Part of Linden Food Group, Linden Foods is one of the UK’s leading processors of beef, lamb and rose veal products. It employs 500 people at its Dungannon plant, and has an annual turnover of £115m. Linden’s customers include major retailers and companies within the catering trade throughout the UK and Ireland, such as, Marks & Spencer; Booker, the UK’s largest wholesale cash and carry operator; and web-based gourmet butcher, Donald Russell.

Elaine Willis says: “Linden Foods has been quick to take advantage of the opportunities for growth that have come through new product development and I am pleased to have been able to play a pivotal role in this strategic transition.”

The Linden Food Group sources and processes beef and lamb for customers throughout Europe. The group has an annual turnover of £300m and consists of four companies: Linden Foods, Slaney Foods, Kettle Irish Foods and Irish Country Meats.