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Top award for director
THE director of a Goole businesses has grabbed a gong at the prestigious Red Ribbon Awards.
Jennifer Kerfoot, was named the UK’s ‘Young Gun’ of 2012 in recognition of outstanding achievements in the family business.
Jennifer, who is commercial director of Packed Oils and Group People Director of independent vegetable oils company, The Kerfoot Group, was presented with the award at a ceremony in London last week. She was one of six shortlisted candidates that included nominees from Arora Hotels and Big Issue Foundation.
Kerfoot has two sites in Goole and has just announced that it has tripled its factory space outside the town in a £1m deal that should see new jobs in the area when the units open early next year.
Anita Brightley-Hodges, managing director of Family Business Place, which hosted the awards, praised Jennifer’s enthusiasm and belief in her family business and said: “Her amazing ability to head up the UK and European food and technical oils division, combined with working with major clients, managing the needs of the 100 strong workforce and combining all of this with her zest for travel and living life to the full – she is recognised as a role model for the modern next generation of entrepreneur.”
The win comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Jennifer, 31, is to take over from her father, David, as The Kerfoot Group’s chief executive in April. The company packs, processes and supplies more than 500 types of oil to the food, personal care and technical industries and has a turnover of £84million.
“I was thrilled – and surprised – to be announced as the Young Gun winner,” says Jennifer. “It’s a wonderful accolade, especially in such austere times, and I’m sure it’ll be a great boost as I move in to my new role. My personal and professional goals are unchanged: to continue to develop this company with the tremendous people we have here.”
“At The Kerfoot Group, we thrive off celebrating each other’s successes and I’m often surprised at how few businesses do this. Furthermore, our culture and structure enables us to be responsive and agile – if we see an opportunity, recognise a risk or want to challenge a process, we just get on and do it – there is no ‘ivory tower’ syndrome,” she explains.
Founded in 1980 by Jennifer’s parents, David and Elizabeth Kerfoot, The Kerfoot Group will continue as a family business after David steps down next April with Jennifer’s brother, Thomas, also on the Board and a team of long-standing employees throughout the company’s bases in Goole, Northallerton and Moldova.
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
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Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
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