Food-to-go firm invests £7m, creating 94 jobs

Commenting on the investment, chief executive Gareth Chambers said: “Our goal is to become the UK and Ireland’s leading manufacturer of premium ‘food on the move’. We are targeting markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and aim to increase sales outside Northern Ireland by over £13 million per annum over the next couple of years.​

“We are investing in management, key staff and business development activities. The support from Invest Northern Ireland will enable us to realise our growth plans and ensure that the Northern Ireland economy benefits.”​

Director and management level jobs​

Economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland has offered £592,000 in assistance to the company, which will help create 54 of the new roles at Around Noon – several of which will be at director and manager level.

It is also supporting market development activity and the implementation of a new production management system to drive efficiency improvements in the company and help the company to scale.

Grainne McVeigh, Invest Northern Ireland’s director of scaling, said: “Around Noon has grown from a small family business to a company with a multi-million pound turnover and, with this investment, will be well placed to take advantage of further opportunities in the food-to-go market within Great Britain and Ireland.”  ​

Salads, sandwiches and wraps​

Established in 1989, Around Noon supplies sandwiches, wraps, salads, bakery items and cold-pressed juices under the Scribbles, Sweet Things and So Natural brands to coffee shop chains, convenience retailers and contract caterers.

The business has been recognised as one the UK’s fastest-growing companies in the Sunday Times​ Virgin Fast Track 100 for the past two years in a row.

Last month saw the food-to-go manufacturer plough more than £500,000 into automation and IT improvements with support from Barclays Bank.

Meanwhile, Valeo Foods Group is investing £7.5m​​ at its Tangerine Confectionery factory in York to boost production capacity by 30% and create 90 jobs.