Innovative Investment into 2011
Sunday 21st November 2010
Ireland's leading grower and processor of vegetables salads, stir fry and mash products, Willowbrook Foods is delighted to announce major investments in people and facilities at its farm site in Killinchy, County Down.
Recognising changes in the market place and responding to current and projected business volumes in 2011 and beyond, the company has moved into the final stages of the construction of its new processing facility - concluding an investment of over £5.5 million in the past 2 years.
The Killinchy site, which is approx 40,000 sq ft will process salads and vegetables, as well as including a new dedicated factory for cooked products - enabling the company to continue to supply both Willowbrook and own label products to leading retailers and foodservice customers throughout the UK and Ireland.
Commenting on progress to date, managing director John McCann stated that despite the current economic climate, he was delighted with how the factory had come together and looked forward to the first of many products being produced for existing and new customers.
Innovation has always been key to success at Willowbrook Foods and the company is pleased to announce that it has recently strengthened the New Product Development Team to meet current customer requests and also in preparation for the new business opportunities of both existing and potential new customers.
Amanda Ferguson - formally with Moy Park, Denise Curry - formally with Northern Foods and Oscar Mayer and Jennifer Gray - formally with Allied Bakeries and Ashers have all recently joined the NPD team at Willowbrook. They have been joined by Toni Kissimova, who has moved across to NPD from the Quality team of the company. The new team brings a wealth of product development experience together and will work alongside the company's customers in partnership to create new products.
The company has also recently opened a New Product Development Kitchen and presentation room - from where not only are products developed, but then presented freshly prepared to customers.
Colin Ferguson, Sales & NPD Director at Willowbrook truly believes that by investing in product development and providing the customers and their consumers with the ranges of products they require the company will remain at the forefront of the prepared produce market well into 2011 and beyond.Back to News