KK Fine Foods is embarking on an expansion project with support from the Welsh Government to increase food production by 10 million meals a year.
The £500,000 investment by KK Fine Foods at its Deeside facility is backed by £163,000 from the Welsh Economic Growth Fund to support the creation of twenty five new jobs.
The funding will enable KK Fine Foods to increase its capacity to produce an additional 10 million ready meals a year, boosting turnover from £15m up to £25million, taking staff numbers up to nearly 200.
The expansion involves installing a new production line with additional freezing capacity at its 100,000 sq ft bespoke facility on Deeside Enterprise Zone.
Chairman Dr Graham Jackson said the company was experiencing a continual growing demand for their products and forecast a 10% increase in turnover each year for the next three or four years.
“This expansion is essential to meet these targets and service our growing client list but we simply could not have gone ahead with this investment without support from the Welsh Government because banks are so reluctant to lend.
“We have already taken on fifteen new members of staff as a direct result of this project and will have the new production line up and running by October.”
Business Minister Edwina Hart said the Economic Growth Fund was helping businesses across all sectors to expand and create jobs.
“KK Fine Foods is an important regional employer and this investment will not only create new jobs but will also provide a boost to their supply chain in Wales. I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting their expansion and investment.”
The company is seen as a Welsh food manufacturing success story having increased its turnover year on year for the past 25 years.
The family owned business was started by Chief Executive Leyla Edwards in 1987 working from her kitchen producing vegetarian dishes for local pubs and clubs.
The company now offers an extensive choice of 390 different meat, fish, pasta and meat free dishes supplying ready meals for the foodservice, leisure, brewery and convenience sectors across the UK.
KK Fine Foods invests significantly in developing new ranges, employs five development chefs in its Innovation Centre and introduces sixty new lines twice a year. The emphasis is on high quality food, using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
It has a gluten and lactose free range of products as well as a children’s range focused on low salt, allergens and fat levels to encourage healthier and more nutritional eating habits.