Campden BRI going from strength to strength as it breaks revenue records

• Group broke the £6m revenue barrier in Q4 2013
• Q1 2014 income up £0.5 million on Q1 2013
• Over £3m invested in capital projects
• Membership has grown to 2,400 food and drink firms in 75 countries

Local firm Campden BRI, the leading membership-based food and drink technology organisation, is going from strength to strength as it reports record breaking revenues and a tranche of new, high-profile, lucrative contracts.

For the first time in the company’s history, the quarterly income of the Group smashed the six million pounds (£6m) barrier in the final quarter of 2013, and in the first quarter of 2014, income was up £0.5m on the previous year. Last year, revenue was £22.5 million, up seven per cent, compared to £21 million in 2012.

Over the last two years, Campden BRI has invested over three million pounds (£3m) in capital projects – over five times more than the previous two years put together – and the Group has committed to an additional £1.6 million investment this year to ensure it has the most cutting-edge facilities available to meet the needs of the global food and drink industry.

In the last 12 months, Campden BRI has enjoyed considerable success winning a number of new prestigious contracts. These include its appointment by the Rural Payments Agency to carry out chemical testing of all olive oil imported into the UK, to ensure its authenticity, and being chosen by leading European food manufacturer, 2 Sisters Food Group, to run its new Technical Training Academy – providing specialist training and career development in quality assurance, food safety and legal requirements.

Other new big client wins include a three-year contract with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to carry out analysis of goods imported into the UK. This win extends Campden BRI’s status as UK scientific analysts for HMRC, which it has held for the past 11 years. And Campden BRI was also chosen by the Kuwait government to carry out a review of their national food and nutrition strategy to help improve the health of the Kuwait population through healthy eating, lifestyle and safe food.

The company has installed almost £2 million in new, state-of-the-art processing and analytical equipment over the last two years to ensure it remains a centre of excellence for the global food and drink industry. This includes a powerful new analytical microscope for chemical mapping of material and a sophisticated mass spectrometry system for detecting contaminants and flavour taints, and authenticity testing.

In addition, Campden BRI’s membership base has increased to 2,400 member companies in 75 countries and, as a result of Campden BRI’s continued success, and in recognition of the importance of its staff in delivering its record breaking results, the organisation has awarded all employees salary rises totalling over 10% over the last three years.

Steven Walker, the Director General of Campden BRI, said: “The company’s tremendous success is down to our continued commitment to providing the global food and drink industry with commercially relevant solutions. We support product safety and quality, process efficiency and product and process innovation through the very latest research, and technical and advisory services using the most technologically advanced equipment available.

The most successful firms have brilliant people behind them and we are proud to have the best in the business. Many of our scientists and researchers are the finest in their field and are world renowned experts on key issues ensuring the highest standards of food safety and product quality for the food and drink industry.

Even though the company has been around since 1919, in just the last 5-10 years the food and drink sector has seen dramatic changes. Campden BRI has grown and evolved to meet industry’s changing needs. The practical application of science and technology is absolutely pivotal to the success of the food and drink industry, particularly as the sector becomes increasingly globalised. I am delighted that we have the expertise, experience, capabilities and the world-class facilities to continue supporting this important sector and to grow even further now and into the future.”