Pro-pak Foods to expand its factory and range

The firm makes ready meals and cooked meats under its Fed Well brand, as well as children's ready meals for Annabel Karmel. It has bought a rotary pouch filling and sealing machine, and a new high speed slicing line. The total investment will cost around half a million pounds and create an extra 20 jobs. About 300 people work at the site.

Jon Guest, md of Pro-pak Foods, said: "The investment will result in the development of a new production area to site the machinery and ensure that there is plenty of capacity to expand." That would allow the firm to take on extra business through branded or supermarket own-label opportunities.

"In the last year, we have launched a number of branded partnerships and re-developed the core ranges within the business," added Guest. "So our focus more recently has been to ensure that the factory expands, as these new ranges gain momentum."