The co-founder of Huddersfield ice cream company Yummy Yorkshire has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the Forward Ladies 2012 Women in Business Awards.
Louise Holmes has been shortlisted in the Home-based Business Woman of the Year and the Manufacturing Business Woman of the Year categories.
The Women in Business Awards were launched in 2010 by the 11,000-strong networking organisation Forward Ladies, which has a group covering Kirklees and Calderdale.
The awards recognise the achievements of professional business women in the North West of England, the Isle of Man and Yorkshire and The Humber and comprise of 12 individual categories as well as an overall Business Woman of the Year award.
According to the organisers of the awards, a record number of entries was made this year and the standard was extremely high.
The winners of the 2012 Awards will be announced at an awards lunch to be held on 16 November at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.
Louise Holmes established Yummy Yorkshire together with her husband Jeremy in 2007 to diversify their main milk processing business and to enhance the value of milk from their herd. They also both had a passion for ice cream and a desire to create flavours using ingredients sourced as close to their Denby Dale farm as possible.
Louise is responsible for ice cream production and the development of new flavours as well as marketing, PR and administrative work for the company.
The business has been incredibly successful during the past 12 months, picking up a string of awards and has secured some significant account wins including CHOCOLATE ““ York’s sweet history and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
As a result, ice cream production increased by 36% between 2010 and 2011 to 27,500 litres a year. The company now employs 5 full time and 6 part time staff, increasing its head count by four in the past 12 months.
Despite the recession, Yummy Yorkshire has seen its sales rise year on year with a turnover of £408,700 predicted for 2012/2013.
Speaking about her award nomination Louise said: “It is a great honour to be shortlisted for not one but two categories in these awards. It makes all the hard work and sacrifices you have to make worthwhile when you achieve recognition like this.”