Ice-cream maker announces £750,000 investment

Leading ice-cream maker Maud's has announced a £750,000 investment in new facilities and technology, which it hopes will grow its business outside Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive Leslie Morrison announced the new investment, which includes a new purpose-built factory at Carrickfergus, with John Wilson, founder and Managing Director of Maud’s Ice Cream.

It is hoped that efficiency will be increased and operating costs reduced by the relocation of the company’s manufacturing operation at Gleno, near Larne, and its Antrim-based distribution centre to a single site at Carrickfergus.

The company has already begun production at a new 10,000 sq ft factory at Trooper’s Lane Industrial Estate, Carrickfergus, in March this year.

Commenting on the investment, Mr Morrison said: “This is an enterprising and profitable company which is now adding substantial value to the business that will enable it to strengthen its production and marketing capabilities and achieve new growth targets by exploiting significant export opportunities that it has identified.

“One of the delights of coming back to Northern Ireland is to discover that we have success stories of enterprise such as Maud’s in traditional sectors.

“The company’s aim of tripling its exports by September 2003 meets a key objective of Invest NI to encourage many more smaller companies to widen their business horizons.

“Maud’s will increase its marketing capability in the Republic of Ireland, its primary export market, through an expansion of its existing presence, which includes around 50 customers, by more efficient distribution and an extension of profile-raising activities."

John Wilson added that he expected his company's market position and overall growth to be further strengthened by a new product, a 500ml tub, targeted directly at the take-home ice cream sector - now the industry’s fastest growing segment.

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