Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Vibrant Foods recognised as ‘Export Champion’

Vibrant Foods recognised as ‘Export Champion’

Department for International Trade (DIT) has chosen Rahul Kale, international sales director at Vibrant Foods, to represent the company as an Export Champion in 2022.

Vibrant Foods is the parent company of TRS, East End Foods, Cofresh, Everest and Fudco, all highly successful South Asian food brands that have been leaders in the sector for decades.


Export Champions are hand-picked by the DIT as a recognition of their expertise in importing and exporting across international markets. The group is made up of over 400 ‘Champions’ across England, representing a range of sectors.

Vibrant Foods has grown its international business by 17 per cent despite severe challenges to supply chains, from Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the Ukraine-Russia conflict, beating the 15 per cent forecast made when Vibrant was initially founded, way before the challenges of the last two years began to affect the export sector.

In his role as a DIT Export Champion, Kale will use his expertise within international markets to provide advice, peer-to-peer support and inspiration to export businesses. His role in the international expansion will also be harnessed by DIT ministers in Government policy discussions so that businesses are supported outside of the UK.

“We are proud to be representing South Asian food and heritage in the UK and internationally,” Kale said. “Working with so many world-renowned retailers highlights not only the rise in demand in South Asian cuisine but also the success of everyone at Vibrant. Supplying the best quality products across all our markets. On a personal level, it is an honour to be working closely with DIT and other fellow champions to support the sector.”

Andrew Mitchell, Director General at the Department for International Trade, added: “We are thrilled to have Rahul Kale joining our Export Champions on behalf of Vibrant Foods for 2022-23. After the turbulence of the last two years, it is vital that we promote British food, drinks and agriculture. It is a sector that contributes £120 billion to the UK economy annually and supports 4.3 million jobs right across the country. Vibrant Foods will play an integral role in an important year post COVID-19 pandemic, being both a benchmark and an inspiration for other British export businesses.”

The news comes after a stellar year for Vibrant, which included new market growth in Spain, Finland and Portugal. The team has targeted the multi-cultural communities of six European countries, including Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Norway. This led to a recent Ramadan campaign that saw an overall reach of over 4.5 million, underscoring the level of growth that has been seen this year.

The business now has new offices set up in Germany and Italy as it looks to continue its expansion. Now, not only are Vibrant Foods building strong trading relations with Indian suppliers but also exporting to Europe’s leading retailers.

Vibrant’s international markets will see targeted campaigns to new communities and new consumers – focussing on the Middle East, Turkey and Asia. As the brand grows abroad new plans will see increased distributor listings and new wholesales in markets with distribution gaps.

Rohit Samani, Chairman of Vibrant, said: “We are excited with the trajectory we are seeing in our international journey and the stature of Vibrant within the market. Being an Export Champion is a testament to the journey we have been on so far and we are looking forward to sharing our experiences and learning from fellow champions and the DIT. The last two years have undoubtedly been a difficult environment to operate in. We are committed to sharing our own learnings with our business community, supporting the collective goal of harnessing the very best of British business abroad.”

More for you

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre addressing UK high street challenges

Revive UK high streets ahead of the Spring budget.

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Independent retailers body calls for support ahead of Spring budget

A leading retail association representing thousands of independent businesses across the UK has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring budget statement.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to address three crucial areas to support independent retailers and revitalise high streets across the UK.

Goodacre said, "While we understand this Spring statement may not introduce major tax changes, we believe there are vital areas where the Government must demonstrate its commitment to the future of British high streets."

For the upcoming Spring budget on March 26, Goodacre has outlined three key priorities.

He said: "We need to see continued investment for town centres and high streets across the country to maintain momentum in regeneration efforts.

"The Government must also ensure that policing is fully funded to properly address retail crime, which has become increasingly concerning for our members.

Keep ReadingShow less
Surplus supermarket Company Shop installs Pricer ESLs to improve pricing and efficiency

Pricer Electronic Shelf Labels at a Company Shop store

Pricer ESLs coming to all Company Shop stores

Surplus supermarket Company Shop has partnered with Pricer, the leading in-store automation and communication solutions provider, to roll out Pricer’s in-store solution based on Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) to its entire UK store estate of supermarkets.

The partnership will enable Company Shop to optimise in-store operations and improve labour productivity, while leveraging dynamic pricing to help customers access good food at the best prices and reduce food waste.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exterior view of Butlin’s upgraded Nisa convenience store, showcasing the new Nisa Local branding

Butlin’s Invests in Nisa Stores to Enhance Guest Experience

Nisa

Holiday resort unveils on-site Nisa store

Holiday resort operator Butlin’s has revealed a significant investment in its on-site Nisa supermarkets, with a focus on improving customer experience and meeting the evolving needs of its guests.

This enhancement includes upgrades to two stores at its Skegness resort and improvements at Minehead and Bognor Regis.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cost of operating a convenience store after Autumn Budget

Autumn Budget impacts small convenience store owners.

iStock image

Retailers warned as pressure to be ramped on local shops

Convenience retailers are being advised by industry body ACS to make sure their business is ready for changes coming into force in April as a result of the Autumn Budget, which will increase costs for many, but for some of the smallest retailers may result in some savings.

The National Insurance Rate paid by employers currently stands at 13.8 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Unilever Sells The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera

Unilever announces the sale of The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera

Photo: iStock

Unilever to sell The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera

Unilever has agreed to sell its The Vegetarian Butcher range to JBS-owned Vivera as part of its strategy to offload non-core brands.

The consumer goods giant acquired the plant-based food brand in 2018 from founder Jaap Korteweg. It has since delivered double-digit growth and expanded to more than 55 markets worldwide, both in retail and foodservice.

Keep ReadingShow less