A company that stores, packages and distributes chilled groceries for other suppliers has created 200 jobs in a new base in Midlands and is planning another 150 this year.
Oakland International invested £ 4 million last year to equip a 225,000 square foot unit in Bardon, near Coalville in northwest Leicestershire.
The site can store and move 24,000 pallets and could ultimately create 400 jobs.
The family-run company specializes in the packaging, storage, picking and distribution of food as well as brand development.
It works with customers who ship fresh, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK, Ireland and through a partner in Spain.
Sales director Martin Pearson said that since the move, inquiries from food manufacturers in and around the area have risen sharply due to Bardon’s central location.
He said the most significant business gain was securing a contract to store refrigerated packaged meat for retailers.
In addition to the 25 million cases of meat processed at the construction site, more than 50,000 refrigerated recipe boxes are processed and distributed each week and shipped straight to people’s homes.
Mr. Pearson said, “In addition to being able to store and pick, we knew that the Coalville location would also be an optimal solution for food manufacturers looking to pick their own orders onto pallets for distribution to their UK retail and wholesale customers.
“We look forward to these inquiries, as this volume is completely free of charge for the distribution of the site volume and the synergies it offers enable us to reduce costs along the entire supply chain for the benefit of all.”
It is currently planned to install solar modules to make the warehouse climate-neutral. This is part of the company’s focus on becoming the first carbon neutral company in its industry
Oakland employs 600 people with headquarters in Redditch and offices in Corby, Dublin and Worksop.