Clandeboye Estate has announced it will invest over £2m to expand its Clandeboye Yoghurt business and create 13 new jobs.
The Bangor SME is building a new factory on its grounds which Invest NI has offered £470,000 of support towards.
This will help the firm to manufacture up to 80 tonnes of yoghurt per week - over four times what it normally produces - grow sales in international markets, and create 13 jobs across production and management.
RELATED: Government's Covid-19 business loan scheme deadline fast approaching
John Hood, director of food and drink at Invest Northern Ireland said: “Over the last twelve years, Clandeboye Estate has built its farm-based artisan yoghurt brand into a premium offering.
"Our support over the years has helped it to grow in ROI and now GB, with major retailers such as Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda stocking its products. We are delighted to continue to support Clandeboye with this new investment, which will assist it to quadruple its production capacity and double its workforce in the Ards and North Down area.
“Last year, food and drink companies generated over £5bn for the Northern Ireland economy. The sector has remained resilient throughout Covid-19 and it continues to be a major contributor to our local economy. It is great to see companies like Clandeboye focusing on innovation to remain competitive and continuing to expand and invest.”
RELATED: Tobermore Concrete creating 95 jobs with £30m investment
Bryan Boggs, general manager of Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt added: “As the only yoghurt manufacturer in Northern Ireland, our mission is to grow Clandeboye Yoghurt as sustainably as possible and to maintain the high quality of our natural yoghurt offering.
"Everything from grazing to production takes place within the Clandeboye Estate, with milk sourced from the Clandeboye herd and local producers – a complete ‘farm to spoon’ journey."
This project is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.
Source: Written from press release