Winner: Yorvale

Finalists: The Distance; The Dog Walker

A RAPIDLY expanding Ice-cream manufacturer won the Small Business of the Year award after impressing judges with the growth of its sales base as well as the introduction of new products.

Yorvale started life as a farm diversification project by Ian and Lesley Buxton, who set out to produce ice cream from their dairy farm in Acaster Malbis. The pair started the business sin 1989 with a single ice-cream van.

Yorvale Ice Cream has since grown to win awards and big contracts, supplying farm shops and tourist attractions to the big supermarkets and Saga cruise ships.

In the last year, turnover has grown by 16.3 per cent and profits have grown 24 per cent.

But not resting on their laurels, the couple is investing in new processes to improve margins and raise standards, as well as venturing into the new markets with the launch of their frozen yoghurt range.

Mrs Buxton said: "We have recently instigated a series of environmental initiatives including installing a reed bed for recycling waste water and a heat recovery system and have reduced our reliance on cardboard by 80 per cent – all of which will benefit both the environment and our bottom line. We are also investigating the possibility of harnessing energy from cow manure."

The business is one of only three per cent of all food manufacturing sites in the UK to achieve a Grade A zero nonconformities certification against the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Grade 5 and was the first ice-cream manufacturer in the North of England to gain Red Tractor certification for its milk and cream.

Last year Yorvale increased its milk usage by 14 per cent and intends to double capacity in its factory. It has also recently invested £30,000 in a new mobile unit which sells ice cream at York Minster.

The judges of the Small Business Award said Yorvale stood out as the winner having grown to be a recognised brand across the north of England, moving from a seasonal business to a year round operation.

They praised Yorvale for winning the contract to supply the new Leeds Arena with ice cream, and commended the development of the new line of frozen yoghurt to meet low fat food demand.

When visiting the site, judge were impressed to learn that Yorvale uses local suppliers wherever possible, and has even increased its own farming herd to meet the additional quotas of milk required.

Mrs Buxton said business is going really well, the new frozen yoghurt proving to be a “great new product”.

Speaking after winning the award, she said: “The award is fantastic, and is great recognition for the staff who put in so much hard work.

“We are very much aware that you are nobody without your staff, and winning tonight will really help to give them the boost they deserve.

“It’s great in itself to be a finalist but to take home the trophy back to the staff is really fantastic.”