Kestrel Foods to expand following investment

Kestrel Foods are set to employ seven more people following the awarding of a major contract to the Portadown-based company.

During a recent visit to businesses in the Portadown area Leslie Morrison, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, met with the management and staff of Kestrel Foods to congratulate them on winning the significant export contract.

The dried fruit and nut packing company last year received assistance from Invest NI to upgrade its management information system and implement a marketing plan to exploit the potential of the market in Great Britain.

As a result the company recently secured a £2 million contract with the Somerfield supermarket chain.

Speaking during his visit to the company’s Carn Drive facility, Leslie Morrison said: “This contract will result in further significant growth for the company and is a sign of the excellent reputation that it has built up for its product and customer service.

“The Food Strategy Report recommends that food companies develop innovative products and take a proactive and customer-focused approach to marketing. Kestrel Foods is a good example of a company that has found success by developing a niche product under the Forest Feast brand and actively promoting it in export markets.”

In the last few years Kestrel has enjoyed a growing market for its Forest Feast products, and now supplies multiples UK wide.

As a result of this and the Somerfield contract the company is planning to create seven new jobs, bringing total employment to 47.

During the trip, Mr Morrison also visited Portadown companies NACCO and Golden Cow, the Helm Corporation in Moira and Armagh company Armatile.

(SP/KMcA)