Essentia Protein Solutions reveals expansion plans
“The recent expansion of our estate has been based around existing and future need,” said factory manager Paul Setchell.
“The two units we’ve acquired on Speed Road cover over 1,000m2 of floor space. This has enabled us to bring finished product storage on site and under our control, which has contributed to increased customer satisfaction.
“The acquisition, meanwhile, of another two units on Ramsay Road – totalling nearly 1,000m2 of floor space – has been a strategic move to support us in our future growth.”
Complete renovation
The two units Essentia has taken on Speed Road needed complete renovation, including removal of all existing infrastructure, re-cladding of the roof, repainting and the installation of £100,000 of specialist equipment to make best use of the space.
“While some businesses in need of more space may consider a move to another location, remaining here in Tipton was never in doubt for us,” Setchell added.
“Simply, our skilled workforce and the supply chain on which we rely, make here the right place for us to continue growing the business.”
While the company has no immediate plans to create new jobs, the expansion will secure the roles of the existing workforce.
“The developments we’ve been through do mean that we’re able to do more with our existing resources,” said Setchell.
Food manufacturers face uncertainty
Essentia’s boss said Brexit delivered both challenges and opportunities to food manufacturers.
Setchell said: “Brexit continues to cause a lot of volatility in the food manufacturer sector and inflation is impacting heavily. This means our customers look to us to help them deliver sustainable margins without compromising quality.
“Our success in achieving this has meant continued demand for what we do and while future growth projections are relatively conservative, the standard of our service and products means we’re confident of enjoying on-going growth.”
Meanwhile, Newton Abbott-based seafood and vegetarian manufacturer Paramount is planning further investment this year to meet growing global demand for its foodservice products.
