HEREFORD-based Sun Valley Europe has won two international awards for business excellence at a prestigious ceremony in Minneapolis.

The company beat-off competition from almost 100 businesses worldwide to win awards for its overall business performance and its environmental, health and safety record - an award it claimed for the fourth successive year.

The company was also short-listed in a third category, with its Grandstand Road factory narrowly missing out on the prize for Best Plant in the awards scheme run by parent company Cargill.

Speaking after the ceremony, managing director Richard Maxfield said he was proud of the company's achievements. "To be short-listed for three awards is a tremendous achievement in itself," he said. "We are proud of our environmental policies and our health and safety record, and we're delighted our hard work in this area has been recognised for the fourth year running.

"Similarly, to win the Chairman's Award for Business Excellence is a real honour, and a great reward for all the hard work put in by staff from all of the company's factories and offices. We've worked long and hard for this, and everyone connected to Sun Valley Europe should feel very proud.

We were assessed in a multiple of disciplines, ranging from our financial results to our social responsibility, which makes winning the award all the more pleasing as it demonstrates what a well-rounded company Sun Valley Europe is," said Richard.

The Chairman's Award for Environmental, Health and Safety Excellence was presented to the company after it demonstrated continued improvement in the implementation of its safety policies.

"Having won this award for the past three years, we were determined to not let it slip through our fingers this time around. It's an important award for us as it's not just about complying to set rules. It's about doing what's right for our employees, our communities, and our environment, and we'll be working hard to make it five awards on the bounce at next year's ceremony," added Richard.