THE man behind a highly successful Tenbury business that is now selling all over the world has largely stepped down having seen the company that he helped to form collect many awards.

Mike Forrester says that the time has come for him to take a back seat at Orchard Valley Foods based in Burford.

The company that was initially founded from home has grown to become one of the largest employers in the area.

It holds a Queen’s Award for the work it has done to export and plays an active part in the life of the community in and around Tenbury.

Orchard Valley Foods provides ingredients for the baking and confectionary industry.

It is now part of a larger group based in Scandinavia and has grown to employ 80 people, most of them from the Tenbury area.

The company has put a lot of effort into the export market and has invested heavily in plant and equipment at the headquarters in Burford.

Mike Forrester has played a leading role in the expansion that has included a number of acquisitions and an export drive that has Orchard Valley Foods represented in different parts of the world including an office in Australia.