The Leeds company will work with Sanipex Group to distribute its products in the United Arab Emirates and Indian markets.

The agreement, reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post, follows soon after JT’s link-up with Konig to supply the 2.2 billion euro German market with their designer trays.

Meanwhile surgical device manufacturer Surgical Innovations is on the acquisition trail according to reports from TheBusinessDesk.com, following a leap in revenues and pre-tax profits.

The Leeds-based company is continuing to review acquisition opportunities in the area of minimally invasive surgery “where strong synergies exist with the group and where our R&D expertise and in-house manufacturing capabilities can create improvements to the products and cost savings for the end user.”

Chairman Doug Liversidge said: “We have continued to invest heavily in the business while research and development capability has undergone a step-change to speed up new product development and improvements to our existing technology.

Much of the North’s prosperity is rooted in its rich heritage of textile manufacturing. Despite the challenges of recent years, some companies such as Hainsworth are proving able to adapt and carve out a place for themselves in 21^st century commerce. From its origins in woollen ceremonial cloths (the Woolsack in the House of Lords is covered in Hainsworth cloth), the company has diversified to establish itself as a major producer of protective fabrics, interior furnishings and even snooker and pool cloth.

Bio-degradable

Specialising in quality textiles for 226 years, Pudsey-based Hainsworth boasts a unique success story with the eighth generation of the family still heading affairs.

Much of the North’s prosperity is rooted in its rich heritage of textile manufacturing. Despite the challenges of recent years, some companies such as Hainsworth are proving able to adapt and carve out a place for themselves in 21^st century commerce. From its origins in woollen ceremonial cloths (the Woolsack in the House of Lords is covered in Hainsworth cloth), the company has diversified to establish itself as a major producer of protective fabrics, interior furnishings and even snooker and pool cloth.

Bio-degradable textile coffins lifted the company into the headlines again this year and there’s a whole lot more going on as this remarkable enterprise continues to develop. A complete and modern re-branding has narrowed down the operational divisions from a dozen to a more manageable four and plans for a joint venture in the USA are well-advanced.

The company has also established its own, award-winning textile innovation centre for which has become an internationally recognised authority in the design and development of woven textiles for its own and other firm’s products. Sales of protective clothing fabrics are launching into Europe – they already supply many UK emergency services and the Red Arrows flyers. And if you feel like treating yourself of someone else this Christmas, Hainsworth is also re-launching its range of luxury blankets, available through Harrods and other top stores.

Watch this space!

With sales now exceeding 20,000 thousand pints a week through the brewery’s growing chain of distinctive Leeds pubs and other watering holes in the city and further afield, tributes to the quality ales continue to flow in from beer festivals around the country. Leeds Brewery has fast become a stylish ambassador for Leeds, using the skyline and the city’s civic owls in the point of sale designs.

The Beers

In addition to quality brewing, the craft brewery has tremendous flexibility. The three home beers are:

• Leeds Best (4.3%) – a classic Yorkshire Bitter, full-flavoured with a superb, hoppy finish
• Leeds Pale (3.8%) – an easy drinking pale ale – light and hoppy with delicate floral notes and a well-balanced finish
• Midnight Bell (4.8%) – a premium dark mild. Crystal and chocolate malts combine to give a full-bodied, complex character to this award-winning ale

And brewing flexibility has certainly been the name of the game in 2009 with a different seasonal beer each month. Resolution (4.8%) – a crisp winter ale – launched the series in January and was followed by New Moon; Leeds Special; Ascension; Yorkshire Gold; Samba; Yorker; Funfair; Monsoon; and Gathering Storm.

November will be toasted with Hell Fire and Ale Mary will round off the year in December.

Having handled brewing PR for many years I’ve been privileged to sample some great Northern brews and I can assure you the beers, Sam, Michael and the team turn out are up there with the very best. Leeds Best and Pale go down perfectly in summer, but as the darker nights approach, Midnight Bell beckons. Cheers!