NORTHERN BUSINESS: A Belfast-based firm has announced a multimillion pound contract to supply packaging to American lingerie giant, Victoria's Secret.

MSO Cleland, part of the W&G Baird Group, will earn £1 million sterling (€1.63 million) a year from the deal with one of America's largest underwear retailers.

The company employs 200 people and produces carton packaging and point-of-sale material for the food, textile, gift and multimedia sectors

"We are now supplying all of their printed packaging requirements outside of the USA," said MSO Cleland managing director Mr Dominic Walsh. This will include 500,000 units per month to countries such as China, Taiwan and France.

Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey said the contract was an excellent example of a Northern Ireland company competing and winning in the international arena.

"It shows that even in the most competitive sectors, success is possible for a quality-driven company which can add value to its products," he said.