A TENBURY business at the forefront of keeping people fed is working flat out to keep up with demand from customers during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The business that is now the largest employer in the Tenbury area has won a Queen’s Award for Export but at this time the focus is helping to meet demand for its products at home

It supplies manufacturers all over the world including those who make meals for frontline NHS staff and other key workers.

Some staff at Orchard Valley Foods are considered to be key workers themselves.

The multi award-winning company based on the business park at Burford, with a warehouse in Leominster, makes vital ingredients for the baking and confectionary industry.

At Orchard Valley the production, warehousing and quality team, who are classified as key workers, continue to produce products for the retail sector especially in the home baking category, to keep products in full supply and by doing so help to retain some normality at this worrying time.

“Home baking might not be seen as critical to the nation at first glance but when we consider the number of children being home schooled having access to products which allows some creative baking seem to be increasingly popular to create fun and practical educational activities,” said managing director Cherry Blumberg

“However, the Orchard Valley Foods team are so very proud to support the range of ingredients supplied to meal manufacturers for the NHS, the care homes and to home deliveries for the elderly.

“The volumes are increasing quite considerably, and the team is pulling out all the stops to ensure we can meet these increased demands.

“Our suppliers, knowing the importance of this sector, have been incredible, ensuring we can take some priority in order to meet these demands.”

Ms Blumberg said that it was vital to recognise the important contribution that is made by key workers and the part they will play in getting through the Covid-19 crisis.

“Each day the Tenbury Wells team and our Leominster warehouse and distribution team continue to come to work and do their jobs to keep products in supply and for this we are so very grateful,” she added.

“To all the key workers throughout the supply chain, people making this happen including the suppliers, truck drivers and support staff.

“Without this continued backing we would not be able to play our part in feeding the nation.”