Enterprise accolade for mozzarella-making firm (From Western Telegraph)

Enterprise accolade for mozzarella-making firm

A cheese-making factory, which makes mozzarella from milk produced in west Wales, has been presented with a top enterprise award.

Dansco Dairy Products Ltd at Newcastle Emlyn was a first time winner of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise in International Trade.

The awards, regarded as the UK's leading accolade for business success, are now in their 40th year.

There were 137 awards given, the highest total for ten years, but there were only two recipients in Wales.

The company has seen its employment increase by more than 30% over three years and has also established new markets in China, Taiwan, Bermuda and Algeria.

It started trading in 1978 and now manufactures mozzarella cheese and a range of other dairy products. Over the application period, overseas sales increased by 105% and the company exports about 20% of its total sales - seen as an excellent achievement for an industry that historically has had very low export sales.

Particularly impressive is that France is the company's main market, accounting for 30% of its output, followed by Sweden, Dubai, Japan and Korea.

The creamery employs 169 people and was sold to the Solarus Group by McCains some years ago.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh continue to take a close interest in the Queen's Awards and will once again be hosting an evening reception at Buckingham Palace for three representatives of each organisation and those who nominated them.