ALARA WHOLEFOODS ANNOUNCED GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The country- wide search for the most ambitious companies in the UK is now over. After much deliberation, Alara Wholefoods has been unveiled as Green Business of the Year at the Fast Growth Business Awards 2008.

[UKPRwire, Tue Mar 18 2008] Started in a squat in central London in 1975, the founder Alex Smith had to show creativity from the off in order to survive and slowly nurture a muesli manufacturing business from nothing. And it was that same type of approach to its environmentally-friendly initiatives, exhibiting a true commitment to going green while tying it in with commercial imperatives, which elevated it above other finalists in the final reckoning. The clearly passionate Smith has created a permaculture forest to the rear of the company’s muesli factory. He has changed almost every aspect of the Alara’s core processes, from redesigning its packaging and switching from plastic to lightweight paper with a plastic film in order to cut waste that could end up on landfill by 75% to using a 100% renewable energy supplier. Any visitors to its website, www.alara.co.uk, and readers of its ‘Green Alara’ blog will see how green solutions are not just a passing fad but an everyday consideration.

“It's an absolutely fantastic feeling to win this award and means so much to our business. We've worked really hard to make Alara as environmentally, socially and financially sustainable as possible and it's very rewarding to know that our achievements have been recognised. Winning the award shows that running a successful business and being "green" are not mutually exclusive - you can do both!” Comments Alex Smith, MD, Alara Wholefoods

The Fast Growth Business Awards, which honour the UK’s fastest growing businesses are organised by Crimson Business in conjunction with Growing Business magazine.

Presented by Kate Silverton of BBC News, the black tie awards ceremony took place at the London Marriott on Wednesday 12 March. Amongst the 400 entrepreneurs and industry leaders who attended, were Peter Jones, Dragon from BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Nicholas Wheeler, founder Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts and Seb Bishop, president of MIVA Inc and star of Channel 4’s Millionaire’s Mission.

The judges were overwhelmed by Alara Wholefood’s entry. Ian Wallis, editor of Growing Business magazine and Growingbusiness.co.uk comments:

"The calibre of business that enters the Fast Growth Business Awards is extremely high. And this year was no exception. Amid some awesome competition from 400 entries, Alara Wholefoods have done exceptionally well to win. I, and the rest of the judging panel, are in no doubt that they are set for an outstanding future."

Other judges included René Carayol, business guru and TV presenter, Simon Kossoff, MD, Carluccios and Paul Hick, non-executive director of Maximuscle, who were the winners of the Fast Growth Business awards last year.

Both Crimson Business and T-Mobile are committed to recognising and rewarding great businesses and the people running them. For more information about the Fast Growth Business Awards visit www.fgba.co.uk.

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