A Co Antrim shop fitter is toasting success this week with news that it has secured a deal worth €500,000 to install Costa Coffee outlets within six Applegreen motorway service stations in the Republic of Ireland.

It will be coffee all round for executives at Dunmurry-based McNicholl Hughes to celebrate the deal that has been supported by Invest Northern Ireland.

The specialist shop fitting and interior construction company undertook an intensive sales and marketing campaign targeting markets in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain with support from Invest Northern Ireland.

This contract is the latest in a series of export successes for the company.

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Now in its tenth year McNicholl Hughes has 15 staff and is planning to employ another two by 2011 as a result of further growth stimulated by the marketing campaign.

Managing Director Mark Hughes said: "We are delighted to bring our trusted experience with the Costa Coffee chain to Applegreen and look forward to creating the six stores.

"This contract builds on the success we have already experienced in the Republic of Ireland having worked with Educo Gym and Specsavers."

McNicholl Hughes has also been exploring opportunities further afield and last year took part in an Invest NI and NI Chamber of Commerce initiative to Poland, as well as an Invest NI trade mission to the Netherlands.

Oonagh Hinds, Regional Manager in Invest NI, commented: "By undertaking focused marketing activity McNicholl Hughes expects to achieve a 70% increase in sales, a significant proportion of which will be outside Northern Ireland.

"Our support for this export drive will help the business develop its marketing and management capability, build its profile and consolidate its position in the interior construction sector."

(BMcC/GK)