A Keighley-based specialist business that imports Madagascan vanilla has recently expanded its premises and created three new job opportunities, thanks to a grant of £24,400 from the Keighley Towns Fund. The founder of Vanilla Etc, Graham Bruce, established the business in 2011, following his struggle to find high-quality vanilla products in the UK. Currently situated at Oakwood Business Park, Royd Way, the company has six employees and specializes in importing Madagascan vanilla, supplying gourmet vanilla beans, powder, seeds, and producing vanilla bean paste and extracts of varying strengths.
Utilizing the grant from the Keighley Towns Fund, Vanilla Etc has acquired new equipment allowing them to mill the vanilla beans into powder on site. Additionally, they have expanded their business premises by leasing the adjacent unit and outfitting it, including the construction of a new mezzanine floor. Liz Barker, the acting chair of the Keighley Towns Fund, expressed her support for the growing business, stating, “The Keighley Towns Fund is proud to support such a unique and growing Keighley business with money from the Capital Assistance to Business Growth programme. There is more funding available for other businesses in the area to apply so we’d encourage people to contact us if they think they might benefit.”
Natalie Madgett, the Finance Sales and Technical Director at Vanilla Etc, also acknowledged the significance of the grant in propelling the business’s expansion plans forward. She noted, “With the grant’s assistance, we’ve expanded our manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for our Madagascan Vanilla products, resulting in the creation of three new jobs. We’re committed to contributing to the community, fostering employment opportunities, and showcasing Keighley as a place we’re proud to call home.” This showcases Vanilla Etc’s dedication to both the business growth and the local community.
