A BABY formula business based in Kendal is set to send dozens of trucks full of its formula to help alleviate the current crisis in the USA.

Kendamil is in advanced discussions with the FDA to become the first international manufacturer to export ‘significant quantities’ of non-medicated infant formula to the USA under Joe Biden’s ‘Operation Fly Formula’ to address the ongoing formula shortage crisis in the USA.

Kendamil has been in discussions with the FDA since news first broke of the formula shortages and the measures announced from the Biden administration to bring international brands into the USA.

Following a meeting between Ross McMahon, CEO of Kendal Nutricare, and the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at a spring showcase event at 10 Downing Street on May 9, communications were opened between US authorities and the British Department of International Trade.

Kendal Nutricare was among the first to respond to the FDA’s call for assistance from international manufacturers.

The factory in Kendal is capable of producing around 10 million cans of 900g formula per year and though today is operating at around 50 per cent of its total capacity, given exponential demand from the UK, Europe, Asia and now the US, plans are in place to more than double the site’s capacity by 2024.

Kendal Nutricare expects to ship 100 trucks to the USA over the next six months.

But bosses have said they will prioritise their core markets and existing customers.

Since its launch in 2016, the brand has scaled to sell in more than 35,000 stores across 40 countries and four continents globally, making it one of Europe’s 1,000 fastest-growing companies, according to the Financial Times.

The brand first received international recognition when it was reported that the Royal family had elected to wean Prince Louis using Kendamil formula.

Although Kendamil started primarily as an export brand, having once accounted for over 10 per cent of the UK’s food export business to China, rapid growth in its domestic market means the UK now accounts for 50 per cent of the company’s sales.

 “We have received the call for assistance from the FDA and Kendamil stands ready to act,” said Mr McMahon.

“The urgency of the situation and scale of the US opportunity will justify Kendal Nutricare doubling our capacity for Kendamil by 2024, increasing British dairy exports from Cumbria, creating more local jobs and providing long-term security for British dairy farmers.”

Kendal Nutricare expects to meet the needs of at least 150,000 US households during the import period.