FoodNI member invests in growth of ‘heat to eat’ business
FoodNI member DELI LITES, a food manufacturer based in Warrenpoint, Co Down, has announced a significant investment in its sandwich production and ‘heat-to-eat’ range.
The brand plans to put £12.8m towards automating production and broadening its product range – backed by business development agency Invest NI through its Agri-Food Investment Initiative.
A further £6m investment from the company will help upskill its existing workforce and create 130 jobs.
Caoimhe Archibald, economy minister for Northern Ireland, said: “The north’s food and drink processing sector is a true local success story, with latest statistics showing that it generates £6.5bn in sales and supports more than 25,500 jobs across our towns and countryside.
“This investment will unlock significant growth opportunities for DELI LITES in this exciting sector.
“Increased capacity and new automated equipment will boost productivity and enable it to expand its fresh and frozen ranges, grow its sales in Britain and Ireland, and open up additional export markets.
“With 78 per cent of our food and drink sold outside the north, this industry showcases the quality, innovation and global appeal of what we produce right here at home.
“The creation of 130 new jobs in Warrenpoint, which will help leverage almost £10m in wages and salaries across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area by 2027, is also good news as we work to deliver a more regionally balanced economy.”
Established in 1998 by husband-and-wife Brian and Jackie Reid, DELI LITES supplies fresh gourmet sandwiches and food-to-go products to convenience stores, supermarkets, major coffee chains and international airlines.
Customers include Applegreen, Costa Coffee, Aer Lingus and American Airlines.
Brian Reid, chief executive at DELI LITES, said: “Since our beginnings over 30 years ago, we are now an all-Ireland business with export sales growing in international markets.
“We’ve always been a trailblazer in our sector, shown when we became the first sandwich maker in the UK and Ireland to achieve B Corp certification.”
As well as expanding its storage and production process, DELI LITES will continue to invest in research and development to enhance its product range for international markets.
Jackie Reid, co-founder and chief scientific officer at DELI LITES, said: “Bringing even more products to our snacking and convenience range and investing in production and automation will significantly increase our capacity and customer reach.
“We’re delighted to be growing our team in Warrenpoint to bring further expertise into the business and help us achieve our vision to transform how the world experiences food on the move.”
DELI LITES’ investment will increase its capabilities and reduce food waste by up to 50 per cent.
Invest NI’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative is a £46m scheme to help local agri-food and drink processors improve their competitiveness and productivity.
Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, added: “This significant project builds on our previous support for DELI LITES to develop its product range for the European market.
“Its success has positioned the company to become a key supplier for the global airlines sector.
“This new project will increase innovation and boost productivity by transforming labour-intensive processes and increasing digitalisation.
“Our overseas trade teams are also working with DELI LITES to explore new international markets as it grows.”
The new jobs include a range of highly skilled positions, ten of which are management positions – including a new chief commercial officer.
The Agri-Food Investment Initiative is open to applications from all eligible agri-food and drink processors in Northern Ireland to access support towards productivity improvements.
