Stowmarket food firm Ichiban invests £1m in rice cooker

Ichiban near Stowmarket is owned by Woolpit farmers Bob and Trish Baker of R&P Baker - who also own Woolpit Business Park.

The £1m investment was supported by a seven-figure loan from Lloyds Bank. The new kit means the company can cook 300kg of rice every hour and produce it more quickly, efficiently and sustainably than before.

Ichiban produces more than 500,000 packs of own label and branded sushi every week for a customer base which includes supermarket giants Tesco and Aldi and high street chain Boots.

It cooks around 900 tonnes of rice every year and expects this to rise to more than 1000 tonnes thanks to the investment.

The growing business - founded in 2005 - has an annual turnover of £32m and employs more than 450 people at its Stowmarket site. It manufactures the produce entirely on site and uses fish and seafood from approved sources.

Ichiban managing director Andrew Wilkinson said: "We’ve enjoyed substantial growth in recent years as more and more people have discovered the appeal of eating sushi.

"But to maintain this trajectory, and increase our capacity for further expansion, we needed to invest in new larger scale and more efficient cooking equipment.

"The finance package we’ve received from Lloyds Bank has enabled us to do just that, and this investment will be transformational for our business."

Lloyds Bank East of England ambassador Matt Hubbard expressed delight at seeing the new rice cooker up and running.

"We have some excellent food and agricultural businesses in Suffolk and ichiban is a great example of a successful local business that is expanding," he said.

"Ichiban has a strong reputation for quality and service that really resonates with its customers.

"We will remain by the side of ichiban in the future, as we will be by other Suffolk and UK based businesses that need our support."

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter visited the manufacturing facility and praised the ongoing investment.

"Ichiban plays such an important role in our local economy, employing more than 450 people here in Suffolk, and it was really fascinating to see first-hand the intricate food manufacturing undertaken by the firm to produce its sushi," he said.

"The business’ latest investment in this new equipment demonstrates a real commitment to a continued path of progression and I look forward to following its ongoing success in the future."