The founder and CEO of one of Cumbria’s most successful young businesses, Ross McMahon of Kendal Nutricare has been shortlisted in awards that focus on individual entrepreneurs’ inspiring stories, as much as tangible evidence of their achievements.

Ross McMahon, the Kendal-based entrepreneur behind the ‘Kendamil’ and ‘Kendalife’ brands, is shortlisted in the Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year category of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Winners will be announced at a gala evening in Manchester, on November 14.

Francesca Russell, creator of these awards five years ago, believes it is vital that British entrepreneurs are championed. Gordon Merrylees, head of entrepreneurship at NatWest, echoes this, calling entrepreneurs the “lifeblood” of the UK economy.

Ross McMahon has certainly breathed life into the former Kraft Heinz factory in Mint Bridge Road, Kendal, since taking it over in June 2015. His compelling story revolves around creating a global brand of infant formula, the success of which has reversed what had been five years of redundancies at the factory and created many new employment opportunities.

By launching the exciting brand of ‘Kendamil Infant Formula’, now on sale in ASDA, Morrisons, Booths stores and online at the Kendamil website, he has contributed a new dynamic to the infant formula sector.

Kendamil’s creation has brought about the rebirth of British-manufactured infant formula, as all other brands are made abroad and imported into the UK. It has also given the British parent the opportunity to feed their infant with a formula that incorporates the natural nutritional value of dairy fats taken from whole milk. This has the major advantage of reducing the amount of cheap vegetable oils in the formula to a minimum.

Additionally, it allows parents to feed children with a palm oil-free formula, which avoids the likelihood of issues that nutritional experts have highlighted when palm oil is the source of palmitic acid in formulas. These include soaping in the infant’s stomach, constipation and hard stools and various digestive issues.

Notably, Kendamil already has an approach that the EU is advocating, as it tries to force other formula manufacturers to cut the amount of glycidel fatty acid esters used in their formulas, emanating from the large proportion of vegetable oil used in their recipes. New EU legislation on this is expected in early 2018.

Doing things differently, and from a nutritional perspective first and foremost, has allowed Kendal Nutricare’s innovative spirit to shine. Following Kendamil’s success, it has recently launched a new nutritious adult smoothie mix called ‘Kendalife’. This is the perfect meal replacement, pre or post-exercise supplement and dietary ally for those requiring additional nutritional support.

The company is now preparing to launch Kendamil Organic Infant Cereals – an exciting and equally innovative new range of infant food, full of goodness and free-from additives, preservatives and colourants.

Ross McMahon’s strategy has already led to Kendal Nutricare becoming UK Business of the Year and UK Exporter of the Year in the FSB and Worldpay UK Business Awards in 2017. It has also been the ‘Greater China Rising Star’ due to phenomenal success in the Chinese market.

Ross McMahon has a personal accolade to add to the list, having been named the Institute of Directors’ Start-Up Director of the Year 2017, in the North West region, whilst Kendal Nutricare and Ross McMahon are currently shortlisted in the Food Manufacture Awards. This is in three categories - ‘Ambient Manufacturing Company of the Year’, ‘Best New Use of Food Ingredients’ and the ‘Me and My Factory Editor’s Choice Award’.

Ross McMahon says:

“We have enjoyed a hugely successful two years and our awards and awards’ nominations reflect that. It is particularly pleasing to gain recognition for the innovation we have brought to the infant formula sector and to receive so many thank you letters from parents who have seen their child become more content following a switch to Kendamil as their feed. We now look forward to delivering even more customer satisfaction in 2018.”

More information about the innovations Kendal Nutricare has brought to the UK market are available at www.kendamil.com and www.kendalife.com