David Cameron heralds cooking tech firm on Twitter

12-Dec-2013 - Last updated on 12-Dec-2013 at 17:00 GMT

PM Cameron live on Tiwtter

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has tweeted congratulations to a firm which has had success with its cooking technology and will expand to the US.

Olympus Automation is one of five companies which won a competition organized by the UK Trade & Investment Department.

It pitched its industrial cooking technology that reduces salt content in processed foods by 20% and decreases cooking times. Thanks to adoption of the technology in the UK it plans to break into the US.

UK business to prosper overseas

Jake Norman, strategy and marketing development, Olympus Automation, told FoodProductionDaily, it entered the competition in November and based on its written application was shortlisted for a pitch in front of the judges on December 10.

The competition looks for the next UK businesses to prosper overseas through exporting.

“We’re absolutely delighted and happy to see PM David Cameron pledging his support,” said Norman.

“We won because the judging panel thought our PDX Reactor technology showed great export potential, based on its USP of fast production and reduced salt.

“Next year, we plan to expand our business overseas, bringing the product to the European and US markets. The prizes awarded for winning will provide training and assistance on entering these new markets.”

£4k of prizes

Olympus Automation will receive £4,000 of prizes to develop their growth plans, including a return flight to an easyJet destination of their choice, £2,000 worth of business planning support from an accountant from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

It also gets An Institute of Export training course of their choice and one year’s membership, a one year subscription to Croner-i International Trade Export Legislation guide and an Export Communications Review by a UK Trade and Investment expert.

The five winners were Blooming Simple – Kent, which created a Card Vase from a flat-pack; Mia Tui – Milton Keynes, for a bag which carries everything from an iPad to Lap-top; Ohh Deer – Leicester, illustrated gifts and clothing; Olympus Automation – Peterborough, process and automation company and See.Sense. – County Down, for its cycle light that responds to road risks.

Judging panel

The judging panel included senior executives from easyJet, Moo.com and the Institute of Export.

“There is no doubt that Britain has the creativity and innovation it needs to compete on the world stage and this competition demonstrates the quality of the UK’s small businesses which are driving our economy forward,” said Lord Livingston, Trade and Investment Minister.

Other companies which made the shortlist were; Goodordering – London, capsule range of bags; Raising the baa – Wiltshire, team building herding sheep; Ultimation Direct – Nottinghamshire, the manufacture, supply and installation of automatic and electric security gates; Victoria Eggs – London, designs which celebrate a love for all things British; and Vista – Surrey glass fittings.