Member Article

£2m investment serves business growth for Teesside food supplier

Teesside-based Country Valley Foods is set to grow both its turnover and workforce after investing almost £2m into its operations.

The firm, which supplies food to businesses across the North of England, has redeveloped its site in Billingham with a £1m fit-out, coupled with a £200k butchery equipment purchase and additional £600k property.

Now expecting to record a £20m turnover for the current financial year, rising to £25m in the next two years, the firm has taken on nine new hires to bring its overall employment level to 85. Moreover, the business plans to recruit an additional 18 new jobs moving forward.

The firm was supported by a £185k funding package from the region’s Let’s Grow Fund, after receiving approval in December 2014.

Country Valley Foods has since been able to grow its customer base by increasing its product range, which now includes fresh meat and poultry, bacon and cooked meats, frozen vegetables, pies and pastries, dried goods, canned goods and soft drinks.

Let’s Grow made the expansion feasible aiding the company in carrying out the work as one project rather than in stages.

Chairman Stewart Munro, who co-founded Country Valley Foods in 1971, said: “The grant process was very straightforward and everyone involved was extremely helpful in assisting us in achieving our vision.

“Without the Let’s Grow grant, the Billingham project would have taken much longer to complete – it enabled us to progress and complete the project in one go, rather than in stages as and when we could afford to.”

Neville Bearpark, who leads the UNW grants team, added: “Country Valley Foods had a great vision for the expansion of the business and it’s fantastic to see that coming to fruition with the support of Let’s Grow funding.

“The company is on course for further growth, bringing more jobs and income into the North East economy. This is a perfect example of how projects such as Let’s Grow can make a real difference, not only to the individual business, but to the wider North East.”

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