The food-to-go manufacturer, which produces sandwiches, wraps, salads and baked goods, is 12th in the Food & Beverage Fast 50 report.
With annual sales growth of 65%, Around Noon was the highest-ranked Northern Ireland-based company in the listing.
Alantra’s Fast 50 ranks the UK’s fastest-growing, privately owned food and beverage businesses on the basis of the revenue growth they have achieved over the past two years, according to their most recently published accounts.
Around Noon have been growing their business
Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon, said: “Our business has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the largest producers of food-to-go on these islands and that is testament to the hard-working team we have built – one that is at the very forefront of the industry, supporting our clients to continually innovate and serve the needs of this fast-paced market.
“Our market knowledge is driving strong organic growth and we’re seizing the moment to capitalise on the momentum of our most recent acquisition to really propel growth over the next few years through significant investments in our facilities that will maintain and create new employment opportunities to further reinforce our market position.”
Charles Lanceley, managing director and head of UK food and beverage at Alantra, congratulated the Around Noon on its listing.
“They have built an outstanding business and their impressive performance has rightly earned them a high ranking in the Alantra Food & Beverage Fast 50.
“The Fast 50 illustrates the strength of the UK’s food and drink sector, with disruptive and innovative privately-owned businesses such as Around Noon challenging the status quo, building new categories and scaling at pace. I look forward to following their progress in the years ahead.”
Around Noon employs over 800 staff across its six manufacturing facilities in Newry and London, where it creates over 4.4 million products every month.
Its products are stocked in forecourt, convenience and supermarket retail and coffees, as well as in contract catering, healthcare, travel and education.
In accounts for 2022, parent company Around Noon Foods Limited reported turnover of £41.6m, up 85% from £22.5m in 2021. It reported pre-tax profits of £906,991, improving on a loss of £181,044 the year before.
Turnover and pre-tax profits were up despite the cost of sales soaring by 85% from £18.2m to £33.6m.
And its workforce also rose from 361 to 484, with a rise in the company pay bill from £8.5m to £15.2m, up 80%.
Subsidiary Around Noon Limited reported sales of £23.5m, up nearly 68% from £14m. Its pre-tax profits also climbed from £231,658 to £428,442.
The company was set up in 1989 by Sheila and Francis Chambers from the kitchen table of the family home in Newry. Son Gareth then took over the company in a management buy-out in 2016.
Last year it announced the purchase of a new factory in Slough, just months after taking over Soho Sandwich Company in London.
It now holds major contracts including supplying own-label sandwiches to M&S on the island of Ireland.
