Quorn Foods is to create 100 jobs at its factory in Billingham, near Middlesbrough, following a £30m investment.
The owner of meat-free brands Quorn and Cauldron plans to build a third fermenter at the site to capitalise on booming sales growth.
It said it had been working at capacity since February last year following the horsemeat scandal and that the new fermenter would allow it to increase its production capacity by 50%.
The 100 jobs would be created over the course of the 18-month construction process, added the company. A small number of jobs are also expected to be created at its HQ in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.
Quorn’s sales rose 13% last year. This growth has continued into 2014, with sales up 13.5% in the first quarter. UK and international sales grew by 12% and 21% respectively. The company also exports to 13 countries, including Australia, where sales rose 24%, and to the US, where sales were up 42%.
“While most of the food industry is seeing very little growth, the last 15 months have been our best yet, with the company recording double-digit growth every month,” said CEO Kevin Brennan. “Not only will this additional fermenter boost production by up to 50%, but it will also create approximately 100 jobs, boosting the local economy.”
He attributed Quorn’s continued growth to shoppers revaluating how much meat they eat.
“An ever-growing number of people are rethinking their meat-eating habits and realising that 500 meals a year with meat is too much for our Health and the planet,” he said.
“Consequently, we’ve found ourselves struggling to keep up as demand for our products has soared and we’re now in a position where we need to significantly increase our production if we are to maintain growth.”
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