A Co Tyrone company is creating 18 new jobs and aims to triple exports by 2014, thanks to pubic and private sector investment.
Triple Eight Proteins in Ballygawley is expanding with the aim of growing exports of pork and poultry products.
The company, a subsidiary of Food-Bridge Ltd — a Cork meat exporting company with an established international network — currently employs 12 people, but investment by the parent company will more than double that. Triple Eight Proteins is being assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to develop overseas sales.
During a visit to the company, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “Through this investment, Triple Eight will offer further employment opportunities, including management posts, in important functions such as export marketing, in a predominantly rural community.
“Triple Eight Proteins began operations in Ballygawley last year and is already exporting its total output to customers in developing markets such as Hong Kong, West Africa, South Africa and Eastern Europe.
“This investment will enable it to expand manufacturing and to develop its capacity and capability for accelerated growth overseas.”
The minister added: “The investment by the Republic of Ireland parent company is a significant development for the local pork and especially poultry processing sector, now one of our most successful export sectors.”
The Ballygawley firm’s managing director Flor McCarthy said they were now selling 100% of their output to markets beyond the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“As a direct result of this success in a relatively short space of time, we’ve now decided to expand the business both in terms of capacity and export capability. From personal experience, I am confident that we can grow sales quickly and profitably in Asia, West Africa, South Africa and Eastern Europe,” he said.
“Our overall objective is to triple exports by 2014 through an expansion of sales in existing markets and marketing initiatives to develop business in other regions where there is demand for the range of quality products that we offer particularly to food service operators.
“We are also drawing on the experience and network of Food-Bridge in our export marketing activities.”