Local businessman, Jack Hamilton (28) won a Top New Talent Award 2015 from The Grocer at the prestigious awards night in central London.

Jack, a former Sky News journalist who reported on international news stories across Africa and Washington DC, returned home to follow his passion for food and to help drive the family business Mash Direct from a regional player to an international household brand.

In the last two years Hamilton’s sales accounts have added over £3m per annum to the top line, including a national listing with Asda, as well as increasing food service and export sales in the Middle East. Since taking over the Mash Direct marketing department, Facebook fans have increased from 1,000 to over 20,000 as well as securing coverage in national press including The Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times. He also launched the first national Mash Direct TV ad and arranged sponsorship of a Six Nations rugby match, all while staying within the marketing budget.

“We have a fantastic young team at Mash Direct and this award is down to hard work of the whole team. There is such a buzz around food in Northern Ireland right now and we are ready for a big Year of Food and Drink in 2016. This award means a huge amount to me, especially as we are preparing for some exciting marketing campaigns to really put Mash Direct on the map in 2016.”

Asda CEO Andy Clarke said “There are over three million people working in our industry. That is really quite special. Talent like this is the future of the industry”.

The Top New Talent Awards are a celebration of dynamic individuals operating in the fast, moving, consumer, goods market (FMCG) under the age of 35.

Jack’s talents were recognised earlier this year, as he was awarded the Future Leader Award at the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Awards as well as being a finalist in the Young Talent of the Year Category at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards in London this month.