GROWTH& INNOVATION AWARD 2022

Facedbythe challenges of thecoronavirus pandemicLittleDessert Shop chosetofranchise notfurlough.

Thebusiness, whichhas itshead office at Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton, decidedtoadapt its modeland wasabletoopen15new stores againstall theodds.

LittleDessert Shop,which opened its firststore in Wolverhamptonin2015offeringwaffles, crepes,cheesecakes, cookie dought andgelato, hasgrown to nowemploy390 people

Thenational lockdown in 2020 meantthatdine-in stores had to close andthe company’sstores were notmadetohandledeliveries andtakeaway.

Thebusinesschose to plan for thefutureand onceagain innovate thebrand andheadtowards agoal of unprecedentedgrowthinunprecedentedtimes

It launched auniquedelivery andtakeawaymodel whichwas designed to caterfor thedeliverydemand increase that wasbeing experienced in thefast-food industry during thepandemic.

LittleDessert Shop also launched anationalfranchise marketing strategy leadingtothe sale of 50 territorieswithnosignofstopping anytimesoon.

An entirely newmenuwas introducedadapted to notonly fitthe dine-inmarket butalso to offer spectaculardiningathomeexperiences.

Theinnovativenew menu included adunking boxthattooksocial mediabystorm

Thelaunchvideo forthe boxhad just over 12 million viewsonInstagram contributing to agrowthof over 180,000 socialmedia followers making LittleDessertShopthe most followed dessertbrand in the UK.

Sincethe beginningofthe pan-

In its100th year Dudley-basedMetallisation is in themidst of afresh driveforward to achieve newsuccess.

Thecompany in PeartreeLane, whichemploys 45,makes andsuppliesthermal sprayequipment, consumables andsolutions all around theglobe

In 2019 thedirectors completed areviewofthe business direction andput in placea strategicplan with avisiontogrowthe business to turnover of £18million to £20m within five years.

The plan was broken down into stages to allowfor targeted implementationofthe changes over a period of time

Oneofthe firsttasks wasto strengthen theseniormanagement team whichwas completedduring 2021 with theappointment of an operations managerand asales director

Theexpandedsenior managementteamhavebeentasked with implementing thenecessary changeswithinthe companyto enable thegrowthinlinewiththe companyvision.

Theprocessofthermal spraywas inventedin1909, butMetallisation constantly developsthe product andtechnologytocreatesolutions that expand thebenefits of thermal spraytoits customers

An exampleofthisisMetallisation’s involvementina projectwith RollsRoyce andNottingham University to miniaturise aspray pistoltoenableitto fitina bore hole within ajet engine with an 12mm diameter

Thisenables on-wingrepairs to essentialcoatingsinbetween majorservice intervals.

Amanufacturing innovation that hasbeenadoptedisthe useof 3D printing,bothfor research and developmentand production applications.

3D printed partsenableMetallisation to make itemsthatcould not be traditionally machined or moulded.

Thesecarbon-fibrereinforced partsare oftenstronger andlighter than conventional mouldedor machined plastics

Thecompany is very proudof beingatthe forefrontofimprovingtechnological advances with its products

It investsaround£250,000annually in research anddevelopment Metallistionhas 12 percentof itsfull time stafffocused purely on R&Dwithmanyother staff working in conjunctionwiththe department to bringdevelopments to fruition

Metallisation hasdeveloped its customerservice andproducts in applicationengineering whereit hasprovedout aprocess improvement forcustomers before they committoa largeproductioninvestment.

Freightforwardingexperts

KMBShippingGroup hasachieved exceptionalgrowth, particularly in internationaltrade,inthe last threeyears

Thebusiness, basedatCastlemill, BurntTree, Tipton,formed in 1987

It employs20and between2019 and2021doubled turnover andincreasedits number of customers by almost 300per cent

KMBspecialises in sea, rail and airfreight,haulage,international shipping anddomestic transport.

It assistsimporters andexportersintransportingcargo to almost anywhere in theworld in themost efficientand effectiveway possible KMBprovidesexportdocumen- demic20storeshaveopenedintotal.

Unlikeany otherdessert brand, LittleDessertShopoperatesits ownindustrialbakeryproduction centre

TheLittleDessertBakeryalso expanded during thepandemicto allowfor theincreased demand due to thenew storeopenings.

Thebusinessiscontinuously creating innovative tastecreations with allofthe desserts served in itsstoresare handcraftedinthe bakery including15gelato flavours andmorethan40different cakes, bakesand patisseries.

LittleDessert Shop also releases national promotionssuchasfor Valentines,Easter, Halloween and Christmas.Italso hasshorter promotionsfor Diwali,Ramadan and special events tation,customs clearances,export packingservicesand comprehensive cargoinsurance.

It is continuing to innovate in thedessert industry includingwith therecent launch of an entire 40item veganmenu.

Itscustomers rangefromlarge transnationalstosmall andmedium-sized businesses

It hasgrown to servicethe needs of customers in more than 30 countriesand across sixofseven continents.

KMBwas presented with a Queen’sAward forEnterprise in 2021 in recognitionofits effortsin internationalmarkets.

In preparationfor thefutureincrease in customsentries within theEUthe companyhas expanded itscustoms department and invested in stafftrainingand specialist IT software andhardware.