Tweedmill Textiles – one of the most recognised brands supplying the wool textile and gift industries is expanding and relocating to larger premises to meet the growing national and international demand for its products.
The £400,000 investment includes the refurbishment, fit out and purchase of additional plant and machinery for the new facility in Castle Park Industrial Estate, Flintshire.
The expansion is supported by the Welsh Government with £160,000 business finance and will create sixteen new jobs and safeguard thirty existing jobs.
The company, which started up on a farm in Llanasa, near Prestatyn in 1998, currently operates from a 12000 sq ft unit on Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh which is at full capacity with no room for expansion. The new facility is double the size and will provide the company with a showroom and meeting rooms as well as additional manufacturing and warehouse space.
The business has grown from a cottage industry into an international business with iconic brand status in Japan, one of it’s fastest growing markets, and significant interest from China. In addition it has agents in Germany, France, Belguim, Italy, Denmark and Russia although the UK remains its largest market.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: ” Tweedmill Textiles is a Welsh success story having grown from small beginnings into an established company with its products sold by leading multiples as well as independent retailers in the UK and a growing export market. I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting its growth and the creation and safeguarding of a range of skilled jobs.”
The company has seen its product range expand significantly from picnic rugs and throws to accessories and more recently upholstered furniture and products for the home.
As well as manufacturing under the Tweedmill brand the company also produces exclusive ranges under customers own brand supplying clients including Cadw, John Lewis, Landrover, as well as Mail Order companies, Garden Centres and Corporate.
Managing Director and owner Jackie Ryan said: “ We have identified a number of growth areas and new product ranges we want to develop but our current premises are constraining our capacity to target these new markets. This investment will allow us to focus on growth in the UK and overseas, particularly the Far East.
“Over the last three years we have seen sales grow by 20% year on year so this move is vital for us – it will improve our competitiveness and we envisage our turnover will continue to increase once we’re fully operational in our new premises. Support from the Welsh Government has been incredibly important in enabling this expansion to go ahead and we look forward to growing the business and supporting the local economy.”