Fast Growth Business Awards 2007


	10 reasons to enter today
	1.	Invaluable press coverage
	2.	Boost staff morale
	3.	Impress potential investors
	4.	Gain prestige and recognition from peers
	5.	Network with fellow entrepreneurs
	6.	Raise your profile
	7.	Cheer up the bank manager
	8.	Increase respect from existing customers
	9.	Help attract high quality new staff
	10.	Increase your business growth
	10.


	Key dates

	Monday 12th October Open for entry

	Friday 22nd January Entry deadline

	TBC Shortlist announced

	Wednesday 14th April Fast Growth Business Awards at the London Marriott, Grosvenor Square

	21st May Growing Business Magazine FGBA feature issue out

Winner testimonials

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2010

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2008

2007

2008 winners

Green Business of the Year


		Name: Alex Smith Job title: Managing Director Company name: Alara Wholefoods Address: 108-112 Camley Street, London NW1 0PF Telephone Number: 0207 387 9303 Website: www.alara.co.uk Business description: This family-owned organic muesli manufacturing business is green to the core. Redesigning packaging, switching to lightweight paper and then offering the service to other brands has saved 7.2 tonnes of materials. Alara has also cut its landfill waste contributions by 75%, composts food in bins and wormeries found in its own permaculture forest garden and uses Good Energy’s renewable electricity tariff.

Judges comments: Started in a squat in central London in 1975, the founder Alex Smith had to show creativity from the off in order to survive and slowly nurture a muesli manufacturing business from nothing. And it was that same type of approach to its environmentally-friendly initiatives, exhibiting a true commitment to going green while tying it in with commercial imperatives, which elevated it above other finalists in the final reckoning. The clearly passionate Smith has created a permaculture forest to the rear of the company’s muesli factory. He has changed almost every aspect of the Alara’s core processes, from redesigning its packaging and switching from plastic to lightweight paper with a plastic film in order to cut waste that could end up on landfill by 75% to using a 100% renewable energy supplier. Any visitors to its website, www.alara.co.uk, and readers of its ‘Green Alara’ blog will see how green solutions are not just a passing fad but an everyday consideration – something the judges could not ignore.