BRITISH environment secretary George Eustice has hailed a £25 million expansion at Co Down artisan food producer Finnebrogue as "an incredible success story for the UK food industry".
The minister was speaking as the Downpatrick firm confirmed plans to make a major entrance into the plant-based food arena in January 2021.
Finnebrogue is investing £25 million and creating 300 jobs at a new 200,000 sq ft plant, the most advanced food facility in Europe.
It will be the company's fourth new factory in five years and brings its overall investment during that period to £80 million. It will also take its total head count to 1200 by the end of next year
Mr Eustice said: “Finnebrogue is a great example of what our brilliant food industry has to offer. The UK produces some of the finest food in the world – and our food heroes have done an incredible job of keeping the nation fed during these last few challenging months.
“This new investment will provide a valuable boost to local employment opportunities in Northern Ireland, advancing the company’s ambition to create and promote fantastic and affordable UK food.”
Finnebrogue managing director Andrew Nethercott said: “Plant-based food does not have to be nutritionally barren or extortionately expensive – nor does it have to taste like cardboard. There is surging demand from an educated and discerning consumer base in Britain for more delicious, nutritious, sustainable and affordable food – and particularly plant-based food.
“These flexitarians – or 'meat reducers' – are our market. The people who buy our Naked bacon because it is made without nitrites and our naked sausages because they are preservative-free – are the same people who are increasingly seeking one or two days off meat a week, but without the compromise associated with most of the products currently available.
“This new facility will enable us to provide our consumers with the more nutritious and sustainable food they are demanding.
“It is just the latest chapter in a journey that started with us turning over just £3 million and employing 30 people 10 years ago.
“By 2023, our turnover will have reached in excess of £220 million and we will be employing more than 1200 people in our beautiful rural corner of Northern Ireland.”
Finnebrogue’s 'Naked' brand is the biggest brand of bacon in Britain, having launched three years ago. Boasting £25 million in retail sales, itremains the only mass-produced bacon to be made without nitrites, the curing chemicals used in most other bacon and hams that have been linked to colorectal cancer by the World Health Organisation.
The company - founded in 1996 by Denis Lynn - is yet to reveal the portfolio of products it will be launching in January, but it is expected they will fall under a more diverse Naked brand.
