Chinese glory for duck giant Cherry Valley

CHERRY Valley's long-standing relationship with China has been honoured with a high-flying international award.

Managing director of the Lincolnshire duck giant, Richard Bird, picked up the Continued Commitment Award at the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards.

Designed to acknowledge and celebrate UK businesses' dynamism and success in the Far East, the Rothwell firm was selected ahead of a pool of entries from sectors including education, charity, manufacturing, professional services and technology.

The achievement was recognised by Cathay Pacific's European general manager, Philippe de Gentile-Williams, at The Mandarin Oriental, London, with leading business figures from the UK, Hong Kong and China attending.

Mr Bird, who has just celebrated the company's 50th anniversary and was profiled in November's Business edition, said: "We are delighted and honoured to receive the Continued Commitment Award.

"Cherry Valley has a long-standing relationship – over 30 years – with China and our involvement with the region is deepening each year.

"We are committed to helping China achieve the highest standards in terms of biosecurity, stock management and husbandry, health and safety, and environmental awareness.

"In addition, we are providing the market with a healthier eating option – a traditional Peking duck will have in excess of 35 per cent fat – a Cherry Valley bird will have a fat level of less than 27 per cent.

"The Cherry Valley duck converts its feed to meat rather than fat, which has both economic and social benefits for consumers of duck meat."

The largest producer of duck and duck value-added products in the UK, Cherry Valley's long-standing commitment to training local professionals, developing local leadership and promoting the transfer of knowledge impressed the judges.

The company employs more than 3,500 people in its China operations, the bulk of whom are in Henan Province where the Chinese Government was keen to increase the income of rural families.

Mr De Gentile-Williams said: "Since the awards were launched in the UK five years ago, we have seen a steady rise in participation from British businesses.

"It is particularly refreshing to note that, despite the challenges faced by businesses in the current climate, there were more than twice as many entrants in 2009 than in the previous year.

"China continues to hold its appeal as a market for UK companies looking to grow or consolidate their business and the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards offer an opportunity to both highlight and celebrate the links that are being forged between organisations from the UK, China and Hong Kong."

The judging panel included Mr de Gentile-Williams, John Willman, UK Business Editor of the Financial Times; Stuart Nivison, head of trade and supply chain at HSBC; Sarah Wu, director general, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and Christopher Twinn, director of global consulting firm Ove Arup.