Doff Portland, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of garden care products and the sole UK manufacturer of slug pellets certified for organic growing, has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for International Trade, recognising outstanding short-term growth in overseas sales.

Supplying both the amateur and professional sectors in the UK and in Europe, the Nottinghamshire-based company founded in 1946 employs 90 staff in the locality. Doff delivers consumer products through garden centres, wholesalers and national retailers.  It is best known for its Doff, Power-Up and Green Fingers brands.

With the awards acclaimed as the most prestigious business awards in the UK, Doff Portland is recognised for overseas sales growth of 300% over three years. Exports now represent well over 10% of the business.

Doff Portland CEO, Ben Shapiro, attributes the company’s overseas success to its significant investment in proprietary authorisations, and exclusive partnerships.  Doff has extended its UK authorisations for slug control to over 15 EU countries.  This has facilitated the export of a wider product range spanning biocides, herbicides, and insecticides. 

“Navigating the hurdles of Brexit over recent years has been a challenge, but it’s credit to the entire team and our suppliers that we’ve secured a portfolio of key authorisations and established ourselves in important EU markets with both retail and agricultural customers,” he says.

This award also recognises the company’s growth into the EU in the agricultural sector. which has also been key to its success servicing the consumer market. 

“Doff Agriculture now has a leading position in professional slug control across Europe. Our innovation in this field ensures our retail customers are supplied with professional grade product certified for organic use,” says Mr Shapiro.

“In fact, we’ve recently been awarded ‘best in market’ recognition for our consumer product in France where there’s a huge appetite for bio-control products.”

Mr Shapiro also points to the company’s expertise in slug control manufacture, continued innovation, and investment.

“Our team designed a high quality, rain-fast pellet – formulated for British weather using British wheat which is proving popular with farmers and consumers at home and in the EU,” he says.

“Our local sourcing of wheat and manufacturing methods means that our process has the lowest carbon footprint in the EU.”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country.