FORMER Whitefield man Richard O'Sullivan is certainly a smart cookie!

Irish-born Richard (38), was declared as the Business Person of the Year at the Bolton and Bury Business Awards 2001 held at the Reebok Stadium.

He is managing director of Millie's Cookies and drives the chain forward from a "virtual head office" using e-mail and mobile telephones as he travels 100,000 miles a year round the country.

Millie's, which has more than 100 outlets, was established in Selfridges, London, in 1985 and became a national success after Richard joined two years later.

Stores in shopping centres, train stations and airports throughout the UK sell more than 50 million cookies a year.

Most services which the business needs, such as accounts, personnel functions and marketing, are outsourced to other companies, but there is a small administrative centre in Bury.

After collecting his award Richard, who moved to Lostock last year, was at the centre of attraction again when Millie's Cookies was announced as the Growth Company of the Year.

A workforce of 100 has risen to more than 850 in the last four years and a turnover of £18 million in 2000 looks set to be up by 30 per cent this year.

After collecting two cheques for £2,000 each, a delighted Richard said the company would double the money and launch a hardship fund for the benefit of employees who find themselves in difficult financial or personal circumstances.