Founder in focus

The following interview is an extract from our fourth annual Top 200 Women-Powered Businesses Report, produced in collaboration with Beauhurst.

Click here to read the full account. 

How does it feel to be recognised as one of the fastest growing women-powered businesses in the J.P. Morgan report?

It’s a proud moment to be recognised alongside female entrepreneurs that we have followed and admired for some time. Although the recognition isn’t just about us, we are only where we are thanks to the incredible team and family we have around us.

What have been the biggest drivers of Extons Foods’ growth over recent years?

During Covid we had good labour supply due to our location in Manchester. By focusing on our people and ensuring we are a good place to work we have managed to maintain loyalty from our team, putting us in a strong position against our competitors. Through difficult times we have continued to reinvest and paid for best in class machinery allowing us to ensure we are efficient and able to grow. This in turn has allowed us to pick up good business and long-term accounts.

How has your company adapted to recent market changes whilst staying focused on growth?

We have always focused on quality and service; this has ensured a consistent growth in sales during a time of economic uncertainty. Before covid 70% of our business was foodservice which we lost overnight. To ensure we wouldn’t be in this vulnerable position again we concentrated our efforts into retail and manufacturing and we now have a much healthier split.

We are a fast-paced family business which enables us to make change and decisions quickly, benefiting us when we are looking to launch new products or set up processes.

What do you find most exciting about your business now? What is exciting about the future?

We are currently in the process of investing £4 million in a complete site upgrade and new line. The works are underway and having the opportunity to create a better workspace environment for everyone is fantastic to see.

Could you share the journey that led you to become entrepreneurs?

We were brought up around business and with a strong work ethic, our grandmother ran a fruit and veg shop and our mother built up a bed and breakfast and successful hotel from scratch. Liz always wanted to run her own business and had nothing but belief and support from the get go. So in 2000, Liz purchased a small loss-making cheese business which supplied local sandwich shops with grated cheese. A couple of years later I joined to help with the sales and we worked brilliantly together.

Are there any specific challenges for women-powered businesses like yours that want to grow rapidly and where is support needed the most?

Being two young girls in a traditional male industry was tough. No one knew who Extons were and there were large established cooperatives that dominated the market. However, this gave us the motivation and a quiet resilience to work harder and prove that we had our place. As sisters we have each other’s back. We are the best of friends, when one of us is struggling the other will show up. Over the last 10 years we have each had two children, having each other to keep the business running throughout maternity leave and countless sleepless nights has enabled the business to continue whilst also raising a family.

What key piece of advice would you give to founders and leaders navigating tough times?

Business if a marathon not a sprint and it is important to not get downhearted on the difficult days. There are many. Despite the challenges we have faced we have always focused on the customer, ensuring our product service and quality remain high. Cash is king and you can never become complacent. It is so important to be and remain efficient.