Robinson Welcomes Willowband Foods Expansion

A Co Down food company is growing from strength to strength. 

The First Minister Peter Robinson has officially opened Willowbrook Foods Ltd new £5.5million factory in Killinchy. 

The company produces fresh, pre packed vegetables, salads and mash products and employs more than 160 people. The factory, which includes a novel innovation centre, is the culmination of an expansion programme that began in 2009 and is expected to create 25 new jobs. 

First Minister Peter Robinson pictured with Willowbrook Foods MD John McCann at the official opening of the extension (Photos by Presseye).

Welcoming the expansion, Mr Robinson said: “Stimulating the economy is a key driver in the Executive's programme of regeneration and it is for this reason that we have taken the important step of making wealth creation a top priority in the draft Programme for Government. 

"The agri-food sector is of vital importance to the Northern Ireland economy and this new factory is indicative of Willowbrook’s determination to enhance its competitive advantage in the marketplace. It represents the sort of private sector growth that is necessary to rebalance our economy and I congratulate them on their success.”

The First Minister met John McCann, Managing Director of Willowbrook Foods, and toured the new 44,000sq ft factory. 

Mr McCann said: “This factory more than doubles the company’s production capacity and is enabling us to meet the growing demand from key customers for our existing range of products. It is enabling us to build on the success we have achieved in selling 85 per cent of our products to customers outside Northern Ireland.

“The Innovation Centre and the new factory together enable us to respond quickly and flexibly to market opportunities for new products. Our success to date has been based on the close working relationships that we have developed with customers and our ability to respond nimbly to opportunities arising from the demands of consumers.”

Strangford MP Jim Shannon said, “It was honour to be involved in the official opening of the expansion of Willowbrook foods. Willowbrook foods has been one of the success stories of the last few years, employing over 200 workers at whiterock and Killinchy as well as Newtownards. In a time when many businesses are struggling to keep going. The opening of this factory and the promise of new jobs that it will bring to the area is something which dispels the grey and shows that there is still innovation and points the way to the fact that we can again reach economic prosperity.

"Despite the economic climate and the difficult financial times, the farm has grown and grown and more contracts have been secured across the UK mainland and in the republic of Ireland which have secured more jobs. The new factory is fitted to the highest EU standard and this is just what is needed to keep this growth happening. Fresh vegetables and now new fresh products, and there are yet still more markets to be secured and I believe that Willowbrook will not be stopping here.

"Every week the news tells of businesses shutting down or downsizing and this makes this expansion that little bit sweeter. Not only are there those who work directly for Willowbrook, there are of course the farmers who supply them (Willowbrook buys over £1.2 Million of other farm produce), the drivers who deliver and collect and many other subsidiary people who get business and employment as a result of the Factory.

"The taxes paid and input into the local economy is immeasurable and the aim of the owner is to keep this production ongoing and helping local people and building the reputation of Strangford.

"I am someone that loves my grub – as you can tell – and there is nothing like a good home grown meal from Northern Ireland. Whether it is in the states on holidays, or over in the House of Commons, I am always ready and able to boast of our home produce. What is nicer to sit down to than a starter of Portavogie Prawn Cocktail, a main meal of a good Ulster Steak and Comber Potatoes with Willowbrook vegetables and finish is off with a hot Armagh Apple pie and Glastry Ice Cream! I know how good it tastes, my waistline tells how good it tastes and the rest of the world should know through good promotion and assistance to those local producers how sweet and satisfying the taste of Ulster really is!

"This factory is an intrinsic part of what we in Northern Ireland have to offer and this morning I wholeheartedly congratulate John McCann and his team in this latest success. It is great to see it and we will all be the beneficiaries."