UK exporter Equidiet, announced as a front runner for the 2020 Black British Business Awards
Sandra Murphy, Founder and Managing Director of Lincolnshire-based Equidiet UK Ltd has been announced as a 2020 finalist for this year’s Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards), after successfully growing her revolutionary equine nutrition business into a global brand.
With over 50 years of experience in the equine industry, Sandra spotted a gap in the market for a natural fibre liquid feed that nourishes and hydrates horses. Seeking to gain the scientific knowledge to bring this product to life, she decided to undertake an Equine Sports Science degree in 2010 at the University of Lincoln.
In 2014, Sandra founded Equidiet UK Ltd and launched Equidgel, the company’s first liquid feed. Sandra has since worked tirelessly to expand her brand both in the UK and internationally. In November 2018, Sandra secured a European Patent, making her the ninth Black woman to be granted a patent in the UK. Sandra is now looking to replicate this success by securing a US Patent.
Sandra Murphy, Founder and Managing Director of Equidiet UK Ltd, said:
“The world is bursting with opportunities for UK businesses to explore and I want to encourage more businesses, especially Black and other ethnic minority owned-businesses, to export.
“Over the last twenty years, exporting has become increasingly accessible to companies like mine and I want to show other business owners that it is not something to be fearful of but rather something to capitalise on.
“It is extremely humbling to be nominated for a BBBAward and, after what has been a tumultuous year, I am looking to the future – it’s an exciting time for both me and the business.”
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has supported Equidiet UK Ltd for over five years and DIT officials around the world have introduced the company to a wide range of contacts.
Thanks to DIT support, Equidiet UK Ltd now exports to 11 countries, with aspirations to enter several new markets in 2021, including the US and Australia.
With a new Hi-Drate product that instantly relieves the effects of dehydration in horses, ponies and other animals, Equidiet UK Ltd could play a crucial role in protecting Australia’s wildlife against the wildfires.
Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart, said:
“It is fantastic that Equidiet UK Ltd has been shortlisted for a Black British Business Award. Through innovation and hard work, the company is now recognised globally as a leading equine nutrition brand and this nomination is a testament to that.
“We are continuously striving to make exporting more accessible to British businesses of all sizes and sectors. The free trade agreements we are negotiating will reduce barriers to trade, open up new markets and make it easier for SMEs like Equidiet UK Ltd to trade internationally.”
Winners for each category, as well as the Black British Business Person of the Year, will be revealed at the Black British Business Awards Digital Ceremony taking place on Friday 30 October 2020.
