A DEESIDE food company will create 25 new jobs when it invests £500,000 to produce 10 million more meals a year.
The ready meal maker, KK Fine Food, is increasing its capacity to boost turnover from £15 million up to £25 million, taking staff numbers up to nearly 200.
It has received £163,000 of backing from the Welsh Economic Growth Fund to support the new roles.
The expansion involves installing a new production line with additional freezing capacity at its 100,000 sq ft bespoke facility on Deeside Enterprise Zone.
Chairman Dr Graham Jackson said the company was experiencing a continual growing demand for its products and forecast a 10 per cent increase in turnover each year for the next three or four years.
He said: “This expansion is essential to meet these targets and service our growing client list but we simply could not have gone ahead with this investment without support from the Welsh Government because banks are so reluctant to lend.
“We have already taken on 15 new members of staff as a direct result of this project and will have the new production line up and running by October.”
Business Minister Edwina Hart said the Economic Growth Fund was helping businesses across all sectors to expand and create jobs.
“KK Fine Foods is an important regional employer and this investment will not only create new jobs but will also provide a boost to their supply chain in Wales.
“I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting their expansion and investment.”
The company is seen as a Welsh food manufacturing success story having increased its turnover year on year for the past 25 years.
The family owned business was started by chief executive Leyla Edwards in 1987 working from her kitchen producing vegetarian dishes for local pubs and clubs.
The company now offers an extensive choice of 390 different meat, fish, pasta and meat free dishes supplying ready meals for the food service, leisure, brewery and convenience sectors across the UK.