Soup-er news as food firms creates 200 jobs at vacant site

NEWS of the creation of 200 jobs and an £8.5-million investment in Grimsby by a leading soup manufacturer has been welcomed today.

Leading chilled food manufacturers Daniels Group, best known for the New Covent Garden soup range, has taken over the vacated Mariner Foods plant on Grimsby's Europarc.

And former Mariner Foods worker Paul Webster – who was one of 530 people to lose their job when the Bakkavor-owned plant closed in May 2008 – is one of many delighted at the announcement. The father-of-two is set to return as a shift production manager for the new firm.

"As soon as we heard about the possibility we all sent our CVs in," he said.

"We went through two interviews and to be told I had the job, I was absolutely overwhelmed. It is a very supportive company, big on making sure education and training is right."

Mr Webster will be one of several shift production managers, tasked with ensuring teams produce a range of chilled and frozen foods for the UK and overseas.

The arrival, which has been assisted by North East Lincolnshire Council's economic development team, was also welcomed by Cllr Geoff Lowis, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing. He said: "The announcement is not just excellent news for the town and for the local people who will gain employment there, it is also a well-timed statement of faith in Grimsby as Europe's Food Town and in the Europarc site in particular.

"It is clear that the site and the local economy has suffered through the ongoing economic turmoil but this announcement will highlight what Grimsby, and Europarc, has to offer."

FOOD TOWN REPUTATION SECOND TO NONE

A SKILLED workforce was the "single biggest factor" in Daniels Group coming to Grimsby.

Chief executive Rob Burnett knows of the said the town’s reputation was

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: "We have operations throughout England, but our head office is in Leeds, we have another factory in Leeds and another two factories bordering Yorkshire. Our natural home is the North East, but the biggest single thing that influenced the decision was the availability of a skilled labour force. We are very impressed and Grimsby has a great reputation in that area, as I know from working in businesses previously with factories there."

production will be phased in, with the remodelled facility expected to be commissioned late this month. Ready meal production will start in March, followed by soup production in May.

"Everything will build up, starting with one to two shifts, towards the end of the year," said Mr Burnett.

"This is an ideal location for us, and for our future growth plans too. We have big plans going forward, hopefully we will be able to fill the factory as quickly as we can, and there is the opportunity to expand further too."