The owner of a rapidly-expanding Bradford-based crisp maker has been nominated for a business ‘Oscar’.

Ken Brook-Chrispin, chairman and chief executive of Seabrook Crisps, is among business chiefs in the running for the Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year award.

In recent years he has turned Seabrook from a northern manufacturer into a national crisp brand.

The privately-owned business was launched by Mr Brook-Chrispin’s late father Colin Brook in 1945 and is experiencing record sales with volumes up by more than 60 per cent.

Seabrook, which employs 140 people, is forecasting growth throughout 2010, projecting an increase in turnover to £31 million in the next 12 months.

It supplies supermarkets such as Morrisons, Asda and Sainsburys as well as independent retailers. Its products are also in demand by producers of leading TV soaps such as Emmerdale, Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks.

The entrepreneur of the year is the first and only global award of its kind. Held in 135 cities across 50 countries, it has been running for 23 years.

It celebrates people who build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses.

The programme starts at a regional level across England and Scotland. Regional winners then go through to the UK finals and the overall UK winner then competes for the title of world entrepreneur of the year in Monte Carlo.

Stuart Watson, partner and Yorkshire Entrepreneur Of The Year leader at Ernst & Young, said: “The award gives entrepreneurs the recognition they deserve.”