The Corby-based firm also has ambitious plans to increase turnover by 25% in 2011/12, new MD Nigel Phillips told FoodManufacture.co.uk. The predicted growth was “very good during a recession,” he observed.

Redwood supplies plant-based alternatives to meat and fish, and dairy-free cheeses to health food stores such as Holland & Barrett and supermarkets Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons. Its products are also free from hydrogenated fats, eggs, GMOs, cholesterol, artificial colours and preservatives.

New products

Current lines include cheddar-style Cheezly (a dairy-free cheese), fish-style fingers, meat-free Vegideli hotdogs and beef-style slices, and Phillips said Redwood will soon introduce two new meat-free products.

Both Vegideli meat-free southern fried chicken-style burgers and southern fried chicken-style pieces will be made from pea protein rather than soya, in what marks a new departure for the firm.

Phillips also hinted that Redwood was planning to increase capacity and upgrade machinery at its Corby facility in the near future: “At the moment we have capacity to put on another shift as and when required.

“[But] we’re always looking at increasing our capacity and upgrading our machinery. We can’t reveal further details yet but watch this space!”