British Banger Supplier is 2009 Start-Up Star

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Latest Pig Industry News

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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British Banger Supplier is 2009 Start-Up Star

UK - The UK Foodhall, a small business supplying healthy food for school meals, has been named the winner of the 2009 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

The UK Foodhall was rewarded for its support for British farmers and its enterprise in getting their meat onto the menu for children across the country.

Founder Karen McQuade was presented with £25,000 prize money and £5,000 worth of Google advertising at a glittering ceremony at the InterContinental Hotel in London's Park Lane.

Using only Assured Meat, The UK Foodhall is now the biggest supplier of meat to to local education authorities in the UK and trades under the banner 'Great British Food for Great British Kids'.

It sells around 60,000 chicken fillets and 50,000 low-fat sausages and is currently the Local Authority Caterers Association's 'Outstanding Supplier of The Year'.

The Powys-based business was praised for its commitment to both sourcing produce locally and supplying nutritious meals.

Ms McQuade funded the company's launch two-and-a-half years ago by selling her home and its contents and moving into rented accommodation.

The guest list at the Sky News-sponsored event included entrepreneur and star of TV show, Dragon's Den, Duncan Bannatyne.

High-profile members of the Start-Up Stars judging panel also attended, including Digby Jones, the former director general of the CBI and now chairman of HSBC's international advisory board.

Lord Mandelson paid tribute to all the nominees in a pre-awards speech, in which he said that Britain's prosperity depended on such entrepreneurial spirit.