Soup-er news! £8.5m and 200 jobs boost
NEWS of the creation of 200 jobs and an £8.5-million investment in Grimsby by a leading soup manufacturer has been welcomed today.
Leading chilled food manufacturers Daniels Group, best known for the New Covent Garden soup range, has taken over the vacated Mariner Foods plant on Grimsby’s Europarc.
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recipe for success: The Daniels Group, which is taking over the former Mariner Foods site on Europarc, is best known for its New Covent Garden soup range. Inset, former Mariner Foods worker Paul Webster, who is returning to the site.
And former Mariner Foods worker Paul Webster – who was one of 530 people to lose their job when the Bakkavor-owned plant closed in May 2008 – is one of many delighted at the announcement. The father-of-two is set to return as a shift production manager for the new firm.
"As soon as we heard about the possibility we all sent our CVs in," he said.
"We went through two interviews and to be told I had the job, I was absolutely overwhelmed. It is a very supportive company, big on making sure education and training is right."
Mr Webster will be one of several shift production managers, tasked with ensuring teams produce a range of chilled and frozen foods for the UK and overseas.
The arrival, which has been assisted by North East Lincolnshire Council’s economic development team, was also welcomed by Cllr Geoff Lowis, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing.
He said: “The announcement is not just excellent news for the town and for the local people who will gain employment there, it is also a well-timed statement of faith in Grimsby as Europe’s Food Town and in the Europarc site in particular.
“It is clear that the site and the local economy has suffered through the ongoing economic turmoil but this announcement will highlight what Grimsby, and Europarc, has to offer.”
Find out more about the plans for the site in today’s Grimsby Telegraph.
12 Comments
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by Philip, cleethorpes
Monday, February 22 2010, 10:34AM
“hard working and cheap :)”
by Andy Snell, Daniels Group
Wednesday, February 17 2010, 3:05PM
“I was appalled to read the xenophobic comments made by some people after the Daniels group announced their arrival in Grimsby. In my experience as a factory shift manager I would have to say that the Polish are among the most hard working and reliable employees.”
by rob, grimsby
Wednesday, February 17 2010, 6:54AM
“has everyone forgot, BAXTERS SOUPS, how long did they last”
by Ian Hale, Johannesburg SA
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 1:46PM
“What fantastic news. Good luck to all who have been employed.
As normal few positive or constructive comments but more negative comments and spelling mistakes and corrections. Be Happy for those who benefit from this large investment for crying out loud!!! One job is better than none! No wonder why companies don't want to invest in the area.”
by Dave, cleethorpes
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 1:14PM
“Employing! not imploying....”
by Dave, Cleethorpes
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 1:13PM
“I'm fairly sure, as a business owner, that if the british workers apply for the job and are willing to accept the same hours and pay, they will get the job! there are only 2 main reasons for imploying migrant workers, 1 being that the level of acceptable working hours is greater, 2 being that they will accept minimum wage......obviously this doesn't include the section of illegal migrant workers who are paid below the minimum wage and work extensive hours because this is not a company that could get away with doing this.”
by BRITISH WORKER., GRIMSBY
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 12:35PM
“this is good news if it means all the jobs will go to the local people and not the imported immigrants who send there money back home so others can get into country. BRITISH 1st.”
by Tony, Grimsby
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 12:25PM
“MOST”
by Roz, Grimsby
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 12:10PM
“Great News ! How many of the jobs will go to our Foreign friends THO?”
by Dave, Cleethorpes
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 10:51AM
“Moan, moan, moan, moan......lets hunt for the flaw in the diamond and the dent in the gold bar.....
Personally, a company showing an interest in Grimsby and employing 200 or so people is great news to me, I am happy that some people have a positive outlook for the town or nobody would be interested in investing.”