Tyrone food firm to create 43 jobs in £7.3m investment project

A Strabane-based family business which produces chilled and frozen food for retailers and foodservice firms in Ireland and Britain is to create 43 jobs as part of a £7.3 million (€9.9 million) investment project in Co Tyrone.

McColgan's, which began as a home bakery and butchery more than 50 years ago, plans to invest in new equipment and a packing and dispatch facility to help grow its business.

It currently employs 230 people but its managing director, Gráinne Hampton, believes the new investment will support the company’s ambitious plans to increase export sales by 50 per cent over the next three years.

Ms Hampton said: “The installation of cutting-edge technology and production processes such as fully automated cook, cool and chill production lines will increase our capabilities as well as our capacity.

“These improvements will bring additional benefits to the final product along with improved production efficiency, which is critical in maintaining a competitive edge for our customers. In addition, our new product development team is expanding as we recognise innovation as key to our continued success.”

Invest NI has pledged to support the project with a grant totalling £900,000.

Espresso

Meanwhile, another family-owned

Northern Ireland

business –

Ground Espresso Bars

– has confirmed plans to create 40 additional jobs as part of its latest investment project.

The independent coffee chain, which was founded by Antrim entrepreneurs Darren and Karen Gardiner in 2001, intends to open three new outlets with Next stores in Derry, Enniskillen and Bangor Bloomfield.

Ground Espresso Bars has developed 13 standalone stores and concessions in the North and Republic and has grown its workforce to more than 160.

Ms Gardiner said the company was delighted to be expanding its partnership with Next and hoping to get the opportunity to work on further new projects with the group.