AN online marketplace platform has been honoured with a King's Award for Enterprise for international trade.

Ulverston-based Fruugo, which employs 170 people, is an e-commerce marketplace which seeks to make direct-to-consumer export sales simple.

The company, founded in 2006, helps online retailers expand their business both locally and internationally, enabling them to sell more products to shoppers across 42 countries.

Previously The Queen's Awards for Enterprise, the award celebrates the success of outstanding UK businesses.

"We are extremely proud to be presented with The King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade,” said Dominic Allonby, executive chairman.

“Fruugo has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and to see our achievements recognised with such a prestigious award is a real honour.

"I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their commitment to the company and to our vision; this achievement is a credit to the team’s hard work and determination."

"Fruugo’s mission is simple - to enable retailers anywhere to sell to shoppers everywhere, enabling retailers to access international demand for their products that they wouldn't otherwise be able to find", Dominic told the Mail earlier this year.

The Lord Lieutenant, His Majesty's local representative, will present the award to Fruugo at a ceremony later this year.

The trophy will be handmade by Cumbria Crystal - a company located less than a mile away from Fruugo's head office at Fountation Street House. The trophy will be of a crackle effect design and no two will be the same.

The Mail:

The company, which was included in the latest FT1000 list for the third consecutive year, also recently won Fastest Growing Large Company of the Year at GP Bullhound's annual Northern Tech Awards.

The award is presented to the company generating revenues above £10m in 2020 which has then gone on to demonstrate the highest growth rate between 2020-22.

Fruugo is among 148 organisations nationally to be recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise, of which 78 have been awarded in the international trade category. The company will be able to use the King's Awards emblem for the next five years.