Focus Dinner with David Kerfoot, The Kerfoot Group

With an initial investment of £300, David co-founded The Kerfoot Group with his wife, Elizabeth, in the back bedroom of their home in 1980. Thirty five years on, it has grown to become the UK’s leading provider of oils to the food, technical and personal care industries, employing 113 people and, in 2014, turning over £74m.

With a background as a global commodity trader, it is David's strong belief in creating long-term partnerships with customers, suppliers and staff that has been the building block for their success; and something his children, Jennifer ,Thomas and Eleanor continue to drive throughout the business as they’ve taken over the reins in recent years.

This summer saw a landmark moment for the family-owned business as they accepted a takeover offer from The Avril Group, a specialist oils and proteins company in France; and one of their suppliers.

The deal, which was ”a year in the making”, has seen David exit the day-to-day operations to take on a higher role, sitting on the French Group’s board , as well as giving him the opportunity to drive his passion for social entrepreneurship.

Awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to business and the community, he is already involved in several initiatives which have made a difference across Yorkshire, including his work with the Prison Service which is renowned.

David also established the Pendragon Community Trust which is developing extra care facilities for the severely disabled. He is a Patron of the North Yorkshire Samaritans and Patron and Trustee of Hambleton Foodshare as well as the deputy chair of the North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership. David has also been involved in charity work in the Republic of Moldova, ‘Europe’s forgotten tragedy’ as he calls it.

A true entrepreneur in every sense, this is your chance to spend an evening in David’s company to talk about family business, giving back to the community, supporting others and of course, business growth.