Food firm's healthy appetite for growth.

Byline: DAVID JONES Business Staff

ONE of the fastest-growing food firms in North Wales says it expects to see sales soar by two-thirds this year after investing pounds 2.5min a new ready meals factory on Deeside.

KK Finefoods was started by Leyla Edwards with just pounds 6 in the kitchen of her home almost 16 years ago and her first week's production amounted to 20 meals.

This week output from the new 26,000 sq ft factory on Deeside Industrial Estate will be about 70,000 meals and the company expects turnover to rise from pounds 3m last year to pounds 5m by the end of 2003.

Employment in the business, formerly KK Wholefoods, has also increased since it relocated from a 9,000 sq ft unit at Greenfield, near Flint, rising from 45 to close to 60. More jobs are expected later this year as the company continues to expand.

Founder and managing director Mrs Edwards said: ``The business was and is growing quickly and we needed to invest to take it forward another step to meet ever increasing customer demand.

``We have expanded our product range and whereas we started off making vegetarian dishes we now also do meat dishes and meals made using organic produce.

``We have previously concentrated on food service including wholesale, distribution,pubs and leisure but now we have a broader range we can concentrate on developing the retail side.''

The company moved to its new site after securing a pounds 650,000 processing and marketing grant delivered by the Welsh Development Agency using Welsh Assembly and European funding.

A 10,000 sq ft extension may be added to the factory within two years to cope with an expansion to include fish and poultry-based dishes.

``We have a range of 60 products and this will be increased to more than 100,'' added Mrs Edwards.

WDA North Wales agri-business advisor Dewi Williams said: ``The agri-food team worked very closely with the agency's investment team with the factory built on a plot formerly owned by the WDA. I know the company is committed to expanding.''

Assembly Business Minister Karen Sinclair said: ``KK Finefoods seems to be a prime example of what can be achieved with vision and commitment.

Leyla has shown real flair.'' British Frozen Food Federation president Alf Carr, who officially opened the new production lines, said the company had been at the forefront of the development of high quality, innovative products.

CAPTION(S):

Leyla Edwards at the opening of her KK Finefoods' factory, which will turnout 70,000 meals per week