IRISH INGREDIENTS BUSINESS EXPANDS UK PRESENCE

15th March, 2021

IRISH INGREDIENTS BUSINESS EXPANDS UK PRESENCE

Willows Ingredients, based in County Wicklow, has expanded its UK presence on Orbit’s Tytherington Business Village near Macclesfield, to accommodate a growing workforce.

The company, which also has offices in Shanghai, is a family-owned distributor of raw materials for global food, healthcare, sports and animal nutrition industries. It imports high quality product from all over the world and supplies it to some of the leading brands in those sectors across the UK, Ireland and North America.

It’s UK sales and management team will now be based in 2200 sq ft at Elmwood Court at Tytherington, a move into larger accommodation from their previous offices in neighbouring Springwood Court.

The new offices will provide ample space for a safe, socially-distanced return to work from lockdown for Willows’ six-strong UK team – which has more than doubled in size in the last 12 months. There is also an opportunity to take more accommodation at Elmwood as the business continues to grow.

Rising consumer interest in dietary supplements, the rapid growth of the sports nutrition market, expansion of stand-alone and customized animal nutrition solutions, and, not least, the search for more sustainable food stuffs to reduce impact on the planet, have all contributed to a consistent year on year growth picture for Willows.

Rachell Hipkiss, Head of Sales at Willows, said the move had gone very smoothly thanks to the efforts of Orbit’s team on the ground who quickly found them space to meet their needs.

“To be fair my colleague Debbie had her eye on Elmwood Court from the off. We consider this our ‘forever’ home. It had to be on this park – the amenities and rural location is second to none – and its good rail and road network and proximity to the airport is important for our global customer base.

“It’s also a place we can be proud to bring clients now with private meeting space and bright, roomy kitchen facilities and the support of a building manager. This is particularly important as we bring the team back in after lockdown. While we look after making our own office safe and sanitized, we know Orbit’s team is looking after the common areas. It gives us confidence to return.”

Rachell added: “We should also mention Jade Tighe, who supplied all the furniture for us from fit out specialists CAPS Projects UK in Macclesfield. She did a great job.”

Orbit’s Leasing Surveyor Benn Dickinson, who helped manage the move, commented: “Willows Ingredients is an important existing client and we are delighted to be helping them manage the next stage of their growth journey. The new offices in Elmwood will not only provide for what they need now, it has plenty of room for growth in the future.”

Tytherington Business Village lies just two miles north along The Silk Road from Macclesfield town centre and is an established, mixed-use business and residential community set in 43 acres of mature parkland.