A CATERING butcher and wholesale firm behind a Teesside institution has revealed plans to further expand its reach.

Country Valley Foods, in Hurworth Moor, near Darlington, aims to attract more North-East customers.

Bosses have launched a drive to encourage people to look at getting locally sourced meat delivered to their door.

They have invested in a website, supported by enterprise agency NBSL’s North East Business Support Fund, which has already seen customers place increased orders.

The expansion of Country Valley, which also has a base in Billingham, near Stockton supplying dry, chilled, frozen and tinned goods, comes as it continues to build and benefit from a deal to buy the Newboulds chain of butchers in 2007.

James Munro, joint managing director, whose father Stewart founded the company in 1971, said the website had added a new dimension.

He said: “We've grown significantly over the years, and this is down to the strong reputation we have with restaurants, hotels, retail butchers and caterers right across the region.

“We're extremely proud of that, and we now want to make sure everyone, not just catering and retail customers, can get access to locally sourced, restaurant-quality meat, particularly here in the North-East.

“Our website has been hugely beneficial, making it really easy for consumers to place their orders online.

“There's huge demand for high quality, locally sourced meat, and the site has allowed us to really tap into that.

“We're keen to make sure we build upon that and gain more North-East customers.”

Jonathan Barnes, North East Business Support Fund adviser, added: “Country Valley has a very traditional offer, but is truly embracing e-commerce and social media to drive sales and find new ways to reach customers.”