A top food wholesaler, Henderson Foodservice has announced plans to build a £14m warehouse on the outskirts of Belfast, in a project that will create around 120 construction jobs.

The company, part of the Henderson Group, which owns the Spar franchise in Northern Ireland, will build the new facility - which includes office accommodation – on its own 23.5-acre site in Mallusk.

Ballymena-based Patton Construction will carry out the development work.

Henderson Foodservice, which provides products to the catering industry, said the decision to build the new construction was a result of sales growth of more than 30% since 2007, along with ongoing plans to centralise its distribution services at its Hightown Avenue site.

As well as Mallusk, the firm also operates another depot in Ballymoney. However, both depots will move to the new purpose-built facility when it is completed in early 2011. Staff have been given the opportunity to transfer or take up alternative roles within the company.

-- Advertisement --

"Henderson Foodservice has enjoyed a very healthy period of growth, winning a number of significant long-term contracts in both the public and private sectors," said Managing Director Damien Barrett.

"In order to maintain that level of year-on-year growth, we have reviewed our current business practices to ensure maximum efficiencies.

"Consolidating distribution to one base enables us to streamline the business, share resources and reduce running costs in general. The £14m investment will provide a 130,000 sq ft state-of-the-art frozen, ambient and chilled warehousing, as well as a suite of new offices."

He continued: "We have a well motivated and highly skilled workforce at Ballymoney and it is our intention that they will all either relocate to Mallusk or be given the opportunity to take up a different role within the company.

"Over the next few months we will be consulting all of these staff to discuss optimum transfer timings and options. We will be maintaining current employment levels as a result of the depot changes and recruitment will become an important part of our business plan."

South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan welcomed the news: "Its fantastic to see a business like this prospering in my own constituency. Such investment is vital and I offer them my full support," he said last night.

(NS/GK)