A rural cordial business hopes to reach sales of £10 million in the US after branching out across the Atlantic.
Belvoir fruit farms has been making fruit cordials and presses since 1984 and is now building its international presence.
The business, based in Bottesford, in the pretty Vale of Belvoir, on the Leicestershire-Nottinghamshire border, makes a range of cordials including natural orange, lemon and mint, lime and lemongrass, and ginger.
The company focuses on completely natural, hand-picked ingredients, pressing fresh fruit and infusing flowers to mix with spring water.
It’s most popular elderflower cordial is made using flowers handpicked from the family’s own plantations and growing wild in the surrounding counties.
The range now consists of more than 40 different drinks and includes cans, ready-to-drink pressés, and mixers, which are sold by big chains including Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
The family-run business turned over £22 million last year, and fills around 25-30 million bottles a year. It made pre-tax profits of around £1.4 million in 2017 and 2018.
In 2015 the company opened a £3 million factory and bottling line back and now employs 120 people.
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Over the past few years it has seen strong growth in sales of its natural, premium soft drinks – in 2018 sales of its pressés increased by 11 per cent while cordials grew by 24 per cent.
Turnover for the business was up on the sales of £18.5 million it achieved in 2017.
The Department for Trade and Industry (DIT) said it recently helped the company secure a deal with a distributor in the USA, and is anticipating sales of £10 million there by 2022.
The DIT said Belvoir Fruit Farms began exporting in 2000, but in the last two years has seen international sales rise sharply, with exports now going out to 44 countries.
Key markets include Australia, France, the UAE and Russia, and now the USA.
Pev Manners, managing director of Belvoir Fruit Farms, said: “Exporting is now a huge part of our story and the DIT has been an integral part to this.
“We were introduced to the DIT trade team in New York and have been working with the team for some time, they have helped to promote our brand to US food retailers at several events using different media.
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“The USA is a great export destination for our products, we have seen a large turnover increase since we began exporting and we look forward to building on this further in the future.”
In the USA Belvoir fruit drinks can be found on the shelves of big chains including Wholefoods Market, Cost Plus World Market and Total Wine.
In the early stages of brand development Belvoir targeted northeast USA, in particular New York, but is now looking at nationwide opportunities.
Antony Philipson, HM Trade Commissioner for North America, said: “I am delighted that Belvoir Fruit Farms are enjoying such great success exporting their handmade drinks to the USA.”