North Carolina company invests £1.5m in Sunderland packaging facility

Packaging business Interflex Group has invested £1.5m in new equipment at its factory in Sunderland.

The US-headquartered firm employs a team of 140 staff at its base on Sunderland Enterprise Park, where it manufactures flexible packaging for bakery and snack food products.

Interflex, which also operates from a facility in Dalkeith, Scotland, has a turnover of £48m in the UK. It serves a client list that includes Mars, Nestle, Warburtons and a number of other large businesses in the food, household product and pet food markets.

The firm expects to create new jobs on the back of the investment and increase output by 20%.

Managing director Graham Tilley said: “We were delighted that MAKE it Sunderland, Sunderland City Council’s business investment team, could advise and support us.

“The new equipment increases capacity and further develops our capabilities in performance packaging and sustainable solutions.”

He continued: “The business continues to grow, providing quality products to our customers and increasing our scale and scope.

“At the same time, our workforce has increased by more than 20 per cent over the last seven years.”

Sunderland City Council Leader Cllr Graeme Miller commented: “Interflex is one of those ‘quiet’ success stories that rarely hit the headlines but make a major contribution to the city’s economy through investment and jobs.

“It’s great news that the business is thriving in Sunderland. Interflex’s continued investment in the city and its workforce we hope will help it go from strength to strength.”

Interflex is headquartered in North Carolina.