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CELEBRATION
The Star, Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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www.thestar.co.uk
The Star, Wednesday, October 3, 2012
B U S I N E S S Monthly
AWARDS
Top SME
The Star
SPoNSoRS: The P&A
Partnership
Presented to a company with fewer than
250 employees, an annual turnover of less
than £25m and less than
£12.5m gross assets
that has demonstrated
significant growth or
innovation within its
sector, has maintained
a sound financial performance and a clear
plan for development.
n Winner:
Cafeology
BRYAN Unkles, founder and
managing director, says: “We
are committed to running the
business in a way that gives
something back to the communities we source from. For example
our new product Cafe Cereza
is linked with the charity Coffee
Kids.”
There, in a nutshell, is the Sheffield drink supplier’s founding
principal - and the secret of its
success.
The ‘exclusively ethical’ company recently brought over one
of its suppliers from Colombia to
see the end product of his work
in cafes across the UK. This
Effort recognition: AndyMcClatcheyandToniUnklesofwinnersCafeology,NormanLamontandChrisThornton-DeesofsponsorsP&A
gave customers a real insight
into where the product comes
from and developed their understanding of the supply chain.
And, as part of Cafeology’s
commitment to ethical business,
January 2013 will see the company sign a new supply agree-
ment with a producer in Costa
Rica, allowing full traceability on
a new range of retail products.
But it’s not all reputation, quality
products are key, says Bryan.
He adds: “The management
team at Cafeology continually
sample and taste the products
and always strive for the best
results. The expansion into tea
and cocoa has helped to grow
the business further and is again
based on the principle of delivering great tasting products to
customers.”
This strategy has seen turnover grow from £1.1m in 2009 to
£1.6m this year - despite a costly
diversification programme - and
a forecast £2.2m in 2013. Profits
hit a high of £121,000 last year.
The company also has plans to
move into retail.
JUDGES’ VERDICT
Cafeology had built up a sustainable business in more ways
than one, showing through its
figures that an ethical, Fairtrade
business can survive and thrive
even in difficult times.
HIGHLY CoMMENDED:
MB Advertising & Marketing
Recession, what recession? At
MB, revenue has grown by 21
per cent in the last three years,
profits are up 49 per cent and
headcount is up 43 per cent
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The Resolve IT team who have recruited this year
to 70. Key to this impressive
growth is the firm embracing the
digital revolution.
When faced with cutbacks in
the automotive industry, its core
client sector, it invested in technology to offer a full service in
‘marcoms’.
The firm says staff loyalty creates
outstanding
customer
service, and more than half of
employees have been there for
more than five years.
HIGHLY CoMMENDED:
Resolve It
The judges noted that Resolve
has a deeply rooted drive for
excellence, especially clear,
jargon-free communication - but
that requires staff.
Recognising this, the company
has hired 10 new employees in
the last year including engineers
and a helpdesk co-ordinator.
A new technical director oversees technical teams, capitalises on sales opportunities and
develops new products.
Resolve’s profits have grown
every year since 2007, despite
the economic downturn. It is
also endorsed by the world’s
top two tech giants, Microsoft
and Apple.
Turnover is set to be £1m this
year and projected to hit £2m by
the end of 2015.