Company expands with food for sport (From The Northern Echo)

Company expands with food for sport

9:10am Friday 16th April 2010 in North-East Business News By Deborah Johnson

A COMPANY which makes food products for the sports nutrition and weight management sectors is looking at further expansion after more than trebling its workforce and seeing record levels of growth.

Glanbia Performance Nutrition, in Middlesbrough, has revealed it saw more than 50 per cent year-on-year growth during last year, and has increased staff numbers from 15 in 2005 to 50, on the back of demand.

The company, which has grown to be a leading supplier in its sector, is targeting further growth in the months and years ahead, as demand for its products continues, and is set to create further jobs at its base on Riverside Park.

And the business – which was known as Pro-Fibe Nutrition until it was acquired by its international parent company for £5.8m in 2006 – is also targeting further investment from Irish-based Glanbia to help fuel its growth further.

Keith Burn, general manager at Glanbia in Middlesbrough, said the company had surpassed expectations for growth.

“We’ve seen such high levels of growth over the past three years that staffing levels have more than trebled and we’re now close to capacity in certain areas,” he said.

“So the next step for us is looking at how we take the business on.

“We are predicting further growth over the next couple of years and if we’re to meet that growth we will need to identify ways in which we can expand the business through additional investment in Middlesbrough.”

Glanbia Performance Nutrition makes bars, ready-tomix powders and drinks for the sports nutrition and weight management markets, and its customers include European market leaders in these sectors.

The North-East company was founded as Pro-Fibe Nutrition in 1993 by Matthew Richardson, a research chemist, as a result of his studies into dietary fibre, functional foods and sports nutrition.

In 1998, it moved from Sunderland to Middlesbrough and, in 2000, opened its own factory, having previously focused on research and development.

Its 36,000sq ft site includes manufacturing, warehousing and research teams.

The business is now working with bodies including Tees Valley Unlimited, Middlesbrough Council and regional development agency One North East, which has given a £200,000 grant to the Glanbia plant, to look at how it can take its expansion plans.