Willowbrook Fine Foods, a food processing company, plans to create 55 new jobs in Co Down.

The jobs, with an annual salary of £19,000 (€25,000) a year, will be based in Killinchy, where Willowbrook focuses on ready meals.

The North's enterprise, trade and investment minister Arlene Foster said the firm's £2.3 million expansion would provide a welcome boost for the area's food and drink industry.

“This is an important investment by Willowbrook Fine Foods in the development of a portfolio of premium ready meals and meal accompaniments aimed principally at markets outside Northern Ireland,” Ms Foster said.

Invest Northern Ireland has contributed £192,500 towards the creation of the new jobs which include opportunities in food processing as well as 16 senior management and marketing positions.

The firm already produces convenient meal accompaniments such as creamy colcannon, parmentier potatoes and honey mustard parsnips and has 25 other products in the pipeline.

John McCann, founder and director of Willowbrook Fine Foods, said the company hoped to capture the mid-range and high-end markets..

“Willowbrook Fine Foods will exploit this market opportunity by providing different taste experiences using the best local ingredients which combine provenance, safety and value for money,” he said.

PA