Breakfast followed by talk and questions.
You are invited to the next meeting of the Herefordshire Conservative Business Forum at The Harewood End Inn on the A49 at Harewood End, HR2 8JT, when our speaker will be Mike Forrester, Founder and Chairman of Orchard Valley Foods.
Mike was born in Penrith, Cumbria and lived his formative years in the Eden Valley. He studied Civil Engineering at college and was sponsored by Robert McAlpine. He took a two-week summer job at an Express Dairies local cheese and butter factory and stayed for eight years.
The majority of Mike’s career has been in the food industry, running manufacturing businesses and heading up sales and commercial activities in export markets. He started a dry powder mixing business in 1993 based in Hartlebury and rolled that into the Fayrefield Group, ending up on the Executive Board of the business which had a turnover of £240m.
In 2004 Mike started Orchard Valley Foods, working from home originally and soon expanding into a unit in Tenbury Wells. This business develops and sells innovative ingredients to all sectors of the food manufacturing industry, foodservice and retail.
Orchard Valley Foods has grown organically to a £30m business employing around 210 people in Tenbury, Leominster and St Ives and 60-non-UK based staff. With acquisitions
in recent years, the total forecast sales for the Orchard Valley Foods Group is £48m this year.
Sales to over 30 countries contributed to a Queens Award in 2016, with several other Business Awards including a place on the Sunday Times Fast Track in 2013.
Mike completed his studies to obtain a Master’s degree in 2002. He is a keen rugby enthusiast, having played early club rugby at Penrith RFC and Northern Counties, he now chairs the Senior Rugby at Luctonians RFC. He is the President of the Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce and believes passionately in helping people and small businesses reach their full potential.
Herefordshire CBF welcomes everyone in business or interested in business and of any political persuasion or of none.
If you would like to attend the Business Forum Breakfast please complete the booking form.