A COMPANY has been given the Royal seal of approval with a prestigious award.

Kendamil is a family business based in Kendal founded by Ross McMahon. The company specialises in baby milk, organic baby formula and goat milk formula which is made in the Lake District.

Recently the company was awarded The Queen's Award for Enterprise, which is awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in four categories; International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity. Kendamil won the award for International Trade.

In October, Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman visited the Kendamil site to present the team with the award and was invited down to Windsor Castle for a drinks reception.

On his reaction to the award Commercial Director, Will McMahon said: "It was a great moment, it was great validation.

"We've always felt we were doing the right thing, in terms of what we put into the product. But you never know until you hear from customers and the Queen's award is royal validation but I suppose more importantly it's in recognition in the success of this brand on the international stage."

In November, Will went down to Windsor Castle and met Prince Charles, Will said that Windsor was 'magical'. He said: "It is such an incredible structure, the room was quite busy, people were excited and looking forward to meeting members of the Royal Household and I was very fortunate in that I had the chance to meet the Prince of Wales, which was a magical moment I will never forget.

"It was great to chat to him about Cumbria which is very close to his heart and British farming."

On meeting Prince Charles, Will said: "What impressed me most about him (Prince Charles) was just how genuinely interested he was about every person he speaks to.

"He needs to move through a very big room and speed but he is able to really listen to who speaks to him and he asks quite pointed questions.

"You can see that he is trying to develop a relationship in a small period of time and that was a lovely thing."