Fracino scoops family business award for manufacturing excellence

Birmingham based Fracino, the UK’s only manufacturer of espresso and cappuccino machines, has clinched its ninth award in 18 months.

Launched in a garden shed 51 years ago, Fracino has been presented with The Manufacturing Family Business of the Year accolade at the Family Business of the Year Awards.

The latest honour comes as Fracino marks a momentous year end with an unprecedented £4.1m turnover, a raft of new clients – and further expansion overseas.

Celebrating British family firms and the contribution they make to the UK, The Family Business of the Year Awards acknowledge Fracino’s manufacturing excellence which includes the recent production of its own copper boilers, increasing the volume of components made in house to 90 per cent.

Developing five machines across 2009-2013, Fracino is poised to unveil a new touch button machine and new customers include Nisbets – the UK’s leading mail order company for catering equipment and catering supplies which has expanded across Europe, Oceania and North America.

Fracino MD Adrian Maxwell, said: “We are truly honoured to be involved in the Family Business Awards and to win this category is a great acknowledgement of our journey over the last five decades. It is tremendous to be recognised as a family business which continues to go from strength to strength.”

Since January 2013 - the year of its 50th anniversary - the third generation family business founded by Frank Maxwell (hailed as ‘the oracle of espresso’) has clinched nine awards including the ‘Winner of Winners’ top title from manufacturer’s organisation, the EEF.

Paul Andrews, founder and MD of Family Business, added: “The contribution that family firms have made over the years should not go unnoticed and we are delighted that Fracino have won this award. Fracino believes in keeping things in the family and they are an excellent example of UK manufacturing, now exporting to over 70 countries.”