Queen’s Award recognises exports
EDINBURGH based oatcake and gluten-free snack business Nairn’s has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The award recognises British businesses that excel in international trade, innovation, sustainable development or promoting opportunity. Around 200 firms are recognised through the scheme each year.
Nairn’s nabbed its Queen’s Award at the first time of asking, after a lengthy application process in which the firm demonstrated strong and sustained growth for its export business.
Martyn Gray, managing director at Nairn’s said winning the award was “really positive” for the firm, following a challenging period for exporters.
Nairn’s exports, valued at nearly £5m annually, account for roughly 12% of the total business. The firm has seen its export business grow by 600% over the last ten years, although the most recent gains were delivered despite pandemic headwinds.
Gray said: “A lot of the growth has been despite the fact we haven’t got anybody into the local markets.
“We used to travel extensively before the pandemic. It’s important to see the product on shelf, see the consumers, develop relationships with importers and agents.
“A lot of that has had to happen on Zoom and on telephone calls.”
Kate Birrell, head of international sales at Nairn’s said the that 2022 “will see our team travelling abroad again.”
• Founded in 1896, Nairn’s supplies its products to over 35 markets across the globe.
The firm employs over 200 staff across its Edinburgh and Newtongrange sites, operating 24-hours per day, six days per week.
