Armagh-based food manufacturer, Davison Canners, has invested £6 million in a new manufacturing facility outside Portadown.
As a result of the investment, the company will create 31 new jobs and expects to see its turnover double by 2027.
The investment in the new highly automated facility has enabled the company to secure new business producing ‘ready to eat’ desserts, such as individual cheesecakes, premium trifles and new innovative high-protein desserts for retail customers in Ireland and Great Britain.
During a visit to Davison Canners, Kieran Donoghue, CEO of Invest Northern Ireland, said: “I’m pleased to be in Armagh today to meet the team at Davison Canners. Providing good jobs, promoting regional balance and driving up productivity are all priorities outlined in the Minister’s Economic Vision last month. This investment ticks all three of these boxes.
“This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will drive up productivity by improving efficiencies, reducing the company’s carbon footprint and ultimately supporting Davison Canners in its ambition to be more competitive and well-placed to secure new deals with multiple retailers. The 31 new jobs that will be created in Armagh will deliver additional benefits for our economy, with almost £900,000 in salaries annually.”
The Armagh company, which is now in its second generation, started out as a producer of fruit compotes and jams before expanding into its ‘hot eat’ dessert puddings supplying a range of customers in Ireland and GB.
Alan Davison, Managing Director, Davison Canners, commented: “Our commitment to producing best-in-class desserts and to nurturing relationships with our core customers has rewarded us with sustained growth. We are continually reviewing our business model, developing new innovative products and always looking for ways to expand into new areas in response to customer demands. We are excited to take this next step in the company’s strategic growth and develop a new range of ‘cold eat’ desserts, that opens up significant new opportunities for us.”
Kieran Donoghue, Invest NI’s CEO, added: “For 15 years Invest NI has worked with the company to support its sustained and profitable growth. This has included providing support for the new equipment it needed when it began production of its ‘Simply Puddings’ range, which enabled the company to increase productivity and improve its efficiencies.
“We have also provided marketing development support that helped secure additional external sales, which are essential for lifting the Northern Ireland economy to the next level. I wish the entire team at Davison Canners every success in this next phase of its development of the business.”
In recognition of Davison Canners’ commitment to innovation, Innovate NI has awarded the company a Silver Level Innovator Certificate. Invest NI is committed to driving innovation in Northern Ireland and is a proud partner of Innovate NI, a Department for the Economy programme, helping local businesses to innovate successfully.
