Helen Colley has been in business for over 20 years, firstly setting up her own corporate catering company in 1984 from her parents’ farm in Gisburn, Lancashire. After the onslaught of foot and mouth she had to diversify and in 2002 she launched Farmhouse Fare Ltd, which makes premium hot puddings and chilled desserts for supermarkets and specialist shops.
The last few years have seen a fledgling idea grow into a thriving business. Farmhouse Fare employs over 120 staff at a 85,000 sq ft custom-built, BRC A Grade accredited site in Clitheroe, Lancashire. In just 4 years Helen sold the multi-million pound business to Daniels Chilled Foods at the end of 2006 for 10 million pounds!
Over the last few years Helen has won some of the best awards that female Entrepreneurs could dream about, to name but a few: -
• Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Orange National Business Awards
• Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Chamber Awards
• The Building Business Award at Insider magazines 42 Under Forty Two
• Lancashire Young Director of the Year Award at the Institute of Directors North West Director of the Year Awards.
• Business Award at the Inspiring Women Awards
• Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Person of the Year
Helen also recently won Personality of the Year at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2007, where she was up against some of the very well established names within the food and drink industry, naming Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons and David Woodward, President of Heinz UK and Ireland.
Farmhouse Fare has also been recognized for its outstanding success by winning: -
• Company of the Year at the Food Processing Awards
• Most Outstanding Contribution to the Northwest Region at the North West Development Agency Awards
• Best Dessert category at The Grocer Own Label Awards
• AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year – Orange National Business Awards – beating the likes of Friends Reunited!
• NWCA Business of the Year 2005
• Bakery Supplier of the Year at the British Baker Awards
• Outstanding Small Business of the Year at the IGD Awards
Helen has always had a passion for food and drink and over the years has been a Director on the North West Fine Foods Board and Chair of the Lancashire Food & Drink Forum. In addition, Helen has been the President of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Lancashire’s Community Foundation.
Helen is now the Brand Ambassador for Farmhouse Fare, sits on many boards and is the cookery editor for a National newspaper as well as currently writing her first book.
The last few years have seen a fledgling idea grow into a thriving business. Farmhouse Fare employs over 120 staff at a 85,000 sq ft custom-built, BRC A Grade accredited site in Clitheroe, Lancashire. In just 4 years Helen sold the multi-million pound business to Daniels Chilled Foods at the end of 2006 for 10 million pounds!
Over the last few years Helen has won some of the best awards that female Entrepreneurs could dream about, to name but a few: -
• Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Orange National Business Awards
• Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Chamber Awards
• The Building Business Award at Insider magazines 42 Under Forty Two
• Lancashire Young Director of the Year Award at the Institute of Directors North West Director of the Year Awards.
• Business Award at the Inspiring Women Awards
• Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Person of the Year
Helen also recently won Personality of the Year at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2007, where she was up against some of the very well established names within the food and drink industry, naming Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons and David Woodward, President of Heinz UK and Ireland.
Farmhouse Fare has also been recognized for its outstanding success by winning: -
• Company of the Year at the Food Processing Awards
• Most Outstanding Contribution to the Northwest Region at the North West Development Agency Awards
• Best Dessert category at The Grocer Own Label Awards
• AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year – Orange National Business Awards – beating the likes of Friends Reunited!
• NWCA Business of the Year 2005
• Bakery Supplier of the Year at the British Baker Awards
• Outstanding Small Business of the Year at the IGD Awards
Helen has always had a passion for food and drink and over the years has been a Director on the North West Fine Foods Board and Chair of the Lancashire Food & Drink Forum. In addition, Helen has been the President of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Lancashire’s Community Foundation.
Helen is now the Brand Ambassador for Farmhouse Fare, sits on many boards and is the cookery editor for a National newspaper as well as currently writing her first book.
Helen Colley has been in business for over 20 years, setting up her own corporate catering company in 1984. In 2002 she launched Farmhouse Fare Ltd, which makes premium puddings and chilled desserts for supermarkets and specialist shops.
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