Northern Irish salad and vegetable processor Willowbrook Foods has opened a new £5.5 million factory extension.
The extension measures 44,000sq ft and is based on a family farm at Killinchy, County Down. The increased capacity has been developed to meet growing demand from British and Irish retailers and wholesalers for Willowbrooks burgeoning fresh-prepared produce and ready-meal range.
The company is already a supplier of Co-operative Food and Musgrave Retail Partners and has recently won new business with a British wholesale operation and another retail chain to the tune of £4 million.
Willowbrook managing director, John McCann said: “This factory more than doubles our production capacity and is enabling us to meet the growing demand from key customers for our existing range of products.
“We made the investment to carry forward the success we have achieved in selling 85 per cent of our products to customers outside Northern Ireland.
“In addition, the investment is providing scope for new products being developed by staff in our new food innovation centre in liaison with both existing and potential customers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
“The innovation centre, which opened last year, and the new factory together enable us to respond quickly and flexibly to market opportunities for new products. Our success to date has been based on the close working relationships that we have developed with customers and our ability to respond nimbly to opportunities arising from the demands of consumers.”
Willowbrook celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and its focus has remained the same; understanding the needs of its customers.
McCann said: “Our latest launch, branded Made Easy offers today’s busy consumer, who still likes to cook in the kitchen, a range of prepared vegetables, specifically targeting Mexican, Italian, Oriental and Steak garnish. Each pack has on pack easy to follow serving suggestions to simply turn this into that special meal.”
The factory was opened by Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson and includes a cooking area fully equipped with the latest technology where the company produces its premium range of mashed potato and vegetables, along with other par-cooked vegetable products.
Willowbrook Foods employs around 250 people at the Killinchy plant and also in an operation in Newtownards.
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