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Written by Jim Fitzpatrick, Consulting Editor at the Irish News
Tim Andrew doesn’t look like a man who has celebrated his 75th birthday. He has a youthful appearance and energy about him. But it wasn’t his own birthday that was on his mind when we met to record the latest episode of Trading Up; it was the latest milestone for his family business – Andrew Ingredients .
The business is now in its 80th year and has a rich history in a niche that has always been popular in these parts, but is enjoying elements of a revival wider afield. Tim’s business has a simple focus - it supplies ingredients to producers of baked goods, savoury and sweet.
Founded by Tim’s father, Bill, in 1945, the company initially operated on an agency basis from Skipper Street in Belfast, supplying confectionery products, decorations, jams, creams, fats, and margarines. The agency model involved earning a commission rather than buying and selling products directly.
Tim’s journey into the family business is a lesson in how life can take unexpected turns. He came into the business in 1967 with a “three week” holiday job covering for the warehouse storeman. Tim thinks he was initially hired as "cheap labour," but he stayed and eventually took over running the business when his older brother retired in 1998.
The business evolved from an agency to directly sourcing and buying products in volume from manufacturers across GB, Ireland, and mainland Europe. This allows Andrew Ingredients to secure good prices and pass them on to customers. It also gives them an edge on finding those particular in demand ingredients – pistachio cream is a current favourite due to the online phenomenon of Dubai Chocolate and Tim has secured three different European suppliers.
Another key differentiator for his business has been a focus on offering technical backup and supporting customers. Investing in a test bakery, Bill's Bakery, named after his father, and employing fully qualified bakers allows the company to assist customers, large and small, with new product development (NPD), troubleshooting, and demonstrations. Tim saw this not as a vanity project but a fundamental way to help customers succeed, which in turn benefits Andrew Ingredients.
The business has navigated significant external challenges. Brexit uncertainty was difficult due to the lack of clear rules, but he adapted by buying more directly from mainland Europe to minimize potential tariffs and paperwork, which ultimately worked to their benefit for supplying GB. The COVID-19 pandemic initially caused a downturn as many bakery customers supplied the struggling hospitality sector or temporarily closed.
However, and this was a surprise to me, it was the company’s a strong website and social media presence that allowed them to reach new markets and customers in GB and beyond, often supplying products they hadn't before. This period highlighted the value of adaptability and leveraging digital channels. It’s an important lesson in how even businesses that aren’t directly consumer facing need to engage with social media.
Post-COVID growth has required significant investment to ramp up capacity in staff, fleet, and premises. Tim has also overseen a leadership transition, moving to Chairman after hiring a Managing Director, John Graham, who took on essential tasks like accreditation and improving general business systems. A crucial learning for Tim has been the importance of empowering others and knowing when to step back, even if their methods differ, recognising that delegation is necessary for growth and professionalism.
Looking forward, the business continues to innovate, recently acquiring a honeycomb manufacturing company, Aunt Sandra's honeycomb, representing a step into owning brands and manufacturing. Despite challenges, Tim remains confident in the enduring market for baked goods, considering them a staple part of the diet and a much-loved treat.
The commitment to customers, staff culture, and adaptation has been central to the company's longevity and success and I think it shines through in Tim's interview on Trading Up. Check it out on your favourite platform.