News

23 April 2010

MILLIFOODS FLIES THE FLAG FOR KENT AIR AMBULANCE

Ashford-based food producer, Millifoods has selected Kent Air Ambulance as its chosen charity for this year. Every year the company seeks a Kent charity to support through donations and fund-raising activities by its staff. In 2009 Millifoods raised over £2,000 for Canterbury-based Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and this year, hopes to beat this figure to raise funds for this vital life-saving service.

Millifoods, which manufactures its award-wining frozen ready meals from its purpose-built factory in Hinxhill is planning to raise funds through activities at various events and staff initiatives. Managing Director Stephen Drew says: “Kent Air Ambulance is a crucially important life-saving service for the people of Kent and we’re so lucky that this charity is here for us, flying 365 days of the year.

"We took our initial donation to KAA’s Marden base and met two of the crew, a pilot and a doctor, who told us that no part of Kent is ever further than 15 minutes away in their helicopter, which flies an average of two to three times every single day. What an incredible job these men and women do. They need £1.7million each year to keep flying and if everyone in Kent gave just £1 they wouldn’t have to fundraise. I’m proud that we’re supporting such a worthwhile cause in 2010."

Tracey Mitchell, Product Development Manager added: "As well as entering sponsored events, we will be coming up with as many ideas as possible to raise funds, including a magic night and boot fair. Some of the staff are hoping Stephen will volunteer to do a sponsored head-shave but they will have to catch him first!"

15 Jan 2010

MILLIFOODS JOINS PRODUCED IN KENT

Millifoods, the Hinxhill-based multi award-winning frozen food manufacturer, has announced its continuing support for Kent food producers by becoming a member of Produced in Kent.

Millifoods is a leading supplier of frozen ready meals for the food service industry and select retail outlets. Since it was founded in 1999, the company’s ethos has always been to source from local farmers and traditional style producers whenever it can. Millifoods’ dishes, which range from starters and soups through to traditional and worldwide meat, fish and vegetarian dishes and a wide range of desserts, have won several national awards based on their home-made flavour and appearance.

Stephen Drew, Millifoods’ Managing Director said: “Our aim has always been to produce ‘excellence in a package’, using the best quality, simple, minimally processed ingredients – just like the meals you would cook in your own kitchen.

“Supporting local producers is of utmost importance to us, and wherever possible we source our ingredients from Kent. Our products are renowned for their natural home-made taste and, in my opinion, Kent’s produce is second to none. Not only do we get the quality we’re after but we also reduce the miles our ingredients travel and, of course, we support the local economy. I’m delighted to join Produced in Kent and look forward to developing a productive relationship with the team and other members.”

01 Oct 2009

MILLIFOODS SPONSORS FEMALE TRIO ON EPIC JORDAN CYCLE RIDE FOR MS

Three women from Ashford are joining 20 men and three women on an epic week-long 200+ mile cycle journey to raise over £30,000 for the self-funded Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre (Kent MSTC) Millifoods' chosen charity for 2009.

Over the past few months, the women have been working tirelessly in their fundraising efforts and between them they are on course to raise their target £7,500. Although the Kent terrain is somewhat different to that of Jordan, the trio have been training together in all weathers on Kent's roads, lanes and hills and have endured winds, rains, punctures and sores to reach optimum fitness in advance of their challenge.

Jackie Shaw, who enrolled for the team when she heard Kent MSTC was short of women to join the sponsored ride said: "The Centre needs to raise £75,000 for a much needed new building to house the oxygen tanks which benefit many of the MS sufferers in Kent. We know that it's going to take every ounce of energy to complete to 200 mile route, but we are determined to reach Aqaba in one piece and we're putting a lot of trust in our well-padded cycle kit!"

Millifoods' MD Stephen Drew added: "Kent MSTC is Millifoods' chosen charity for 2009, and it is a cause very close to my heart as my family has been affected by MS, for which, as yet, there is no cure. The centre does so much to help and support local people with MS and improve their wellbeing. We're proud to sponsor its efforts to raise funds for new therapy equipment."

01 Sept 2009

Milli-Motors takes on the soapbox challenge

Millifoods won second prize in a Kent Soapbox Derby's Team Challenge this year, in the company's taylor-made 'Milli-Motors' vehicle, as well as helping to sponsor the day's activities. The event, which now attracts thousands of visitors to Aldington near Ashford, raised £15,000 for the Pilgrims Hospices with its fast-paced racing, street dancing, kit car and motorbike displays and all-round family entertainment. Millifoods' sponsorship included the Deedes Memorial Trophy Race, commemorating the late Daily Telegraph journalist Bill Deedes, who lived in the village until his death in 2007.

Stephen Drew, Millifoods' MD said: "Once again we were delighted to take part in and sponsor the day. The Milli-Motors team did brilliantly to come second against the 30-plus soapboxes doing battle on the steep hill by our local pub The Walnut Tree, and to finish unscathed after their efforts. Wonderful efforts too by the fundraisers who manage to raise more and more each year for this worthwhile cause."

Photograph courtesy of Sarah Prescott Photography

18 June 2009

Triple win for millifoods at major food awards

Ashford-based food producer, Millifoods Limited, has once again beaten off major competition from rival catering giants to win two Gold and one Silver Award at the prestigious annual British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) Awards at the Park Lane Hotel in London last week.

Millifoods, which manufactures frozen ready meals from its purpose-built factory in Hinxhill, was awarded a Gold in the Best New Starter Product for its Brie and Cranberry Parcel. In the Best New Multi Portion Product category Millifoods won both the Gold and Silver awards. A Gold for its Vegetable Lasagne, produced for Compass Group, the UK’s largest contract caterer and a Silver for its BHS Fish Pie.

Fighting such prominent contenders such as Brakes and Bar and Restaurant Foods, Millifoods continues its run of award success, following a Gold Award at both the BFFF and Excellence in Food and Drinks awards last year. Judges from the Craft Guild of Chefs were impressed by all three winning entries and commented of the Brie and Cranberry parcel “All round excellent product, crispy pastry and good balance of flavours. Good colour after baking, filling plentiful with nice ratio of cranberry/Brie.”

Stephen Drew, Millifoods’ Managing Director said: “It’s a great achievement and honour to win not one but three major awards. We’re all thrilled to bits! It’s a measure of the hard work and dedication of my product development team and all the staff at our factory – a real boost to us all. This year we are celebrating our tenth anniversary and these awards prove that we continue to reach the high standards set out in our founding vision: to produce ‘excellence in a package’ using the very best quality, simple, minimally processed ingredients – just like the meals you would cook in your own kitchen.”

Stephen added: “We always source from local farmers and producers where we can, so that we keep to a minimum the miles our ingredients travel before they go to make our award-winning food.”

21 November 2008

Crowning glory for Spike Milligan’s widow as she wins prestigious food award

Spike Milligan’s widow Shelagh has today won a national award at this year’s Excellence in Food and Drinks Awards in London. As one of the comedian’s favourite dishes, Shelagh’s asparagus and Gruyere crown has won the prestigious Gold Award for Kent-based Millifoods, the company she set up nine years ago with business partner Stephen Drew.

Just a few days before the auction of Spike Milligan’s effects at Bonhams, his widow Shelagh is celebrating her company’s success just a few months after winning another Gold at the British Frozen Food Awards for Millifoods Spicy Meatballs.

It was ten years ago when Shelagh met former chef Stephen at a party and the two passionate ‘foodies’ decided to do something about the lack of availability of good ready made vegetarian foods. With Spike’s blessing, the pair went into business supplying frozen food to the wholesale market. Using many of the recipes created for the renowned vegetarian, Millifoods has gone from strength to strength using natural British grown ingredients to supply an ever-growing vegetarian market. Shelagh specialises in the vegetarian arm of the business while Stephen has expanded the business to include a popular range of soups, starters and desserts and a range of traditional and continental meat dishes.

“I spent many years creating dishes for Spike and he was totally supportive when I told him I’d like to launch a business using his favourite recipes” says Shelagh. “He would always have a bottle of wine ready for Stephen and I when we returned from a business trip in those early days.

“Although he was a staunch vegetarian, he encouraged Stephen’s expansion into producing meat dishes as he could see that Stephen was a strong supporter of British suppliers and humane farming methods.”

Shelagh’s creations include Carpenter’s Pie; Avocado and cherry tomato with Mozzarella and Basil filo tarts; Moroccan Chick Pea Casserole; Mushroom, Stilton & Pine Nut Parcels and Blue Cheese & Spinach Lasagne.

Millifoods now employs 40 people in Ashford, Kent, supplying big name companies such as Compass and BHS. Despite current market conditions, business is booming and the factory will soon be working 24 hours a day to meet demand for Shelagh and Stephen’s quality food.

18 June 2008

Ashford company fights off national rivals to win major food award

Hinxhill based food producer, Millifoods Ltd, has beaten off major competition from rival catering giants to win a coveted Gold Award prize in the prestigious annual British Frozen Food Federation Awards.

Millifoods, which has been manufacturing frozen ready meals for the food service industry and select retail outlets for just four years, was awarded Best New Multi-Portion Product for its Spicy Meatballs dish. Fighting such prominent contenders such as Brakes and KK Fine Foods, the company was selected for the Gold Award by judges from the Craft Guild of Chefs at the Federation’s annual awards at the Park Lane Hilton, London on 12 June. The Chefs were impressed by the product’s homemade flavour and appearance.

Stephen Drew. Millifoods’ Managing Director, who lives in Bonnington near Ashford said:

“We’re all so thrilled to win this award. Congratulations go to all my hard-working staff; they’ve all played a part in the huge success of our delicious spicy meatballs. Special thanks must go to Tracy Mitchell our Product Development Manager. Beating the Goliaths of the food industry is a real boost to us all. We’re a young company which started production in 2004, founded upon a passion for food and a simple vision to create great traditional meat dishes and innovative vegetarian meals. We’re now supplying a growing national customer base with everything from traditional English casserole dishes to a range of European and Eastern dishes and an extensive vegetarian menu.”

Stephen added:

“We’re also proud of our support of local farmers and traditional style producers. Wherever we can, we make sure we minimise the miles our ingredients travel before they go to make our ground-breaking yet uncomplicated food.”

Stephen described Millifoods’ ethos: “We are enthusiastic ‘foodies’ who, having worked for the big blue chip food manufacturers, were very disappointed to see the trend in food manufacturing becoming less about the food and more about the profit. We aim to move the focus back to what really matters - making products we’re proud of by using simple and minimally processed ingredients.”