A CHILLED food company from the Tees Valley which supplies the country’s leading supermarkets is planning expansion and job creation after a period of significant growth.

SK Chilled Foods, which has three sites across the region, has seen 30 per cent growth in turnover in the past two years and now employs more than 500 people.

With further growth expected over the next year, the company is looking into the possibility of expanding its operations in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Wynyard.

Jeremy Faulkner, managing director of SK Chilled Foods, said expansion and job creation are planned.

“We’ve enjoyed a successful few years and are keen to build on that success by securing further investment in Tees Valley, primarily at our Riverside Park and South Bank sites,” he said.

“The next step is to identify how we make our expansion plans happen, ensuring a successful future for the company for many years to come.”

The company makes Indian and Chinese fresh and frozen snacks at its Riverside Park site, while American ready meals and snacks are made at South Bank. Its Wynyard site is the company’s warehousing and distribution centre.

SK Chilled Foods, owned by American parent company Entrepreneurial Food Group, produces about nine million cases of snacks each year, which are then distributed to the UK’s leading supermarkets.

The company is now working with agencies including Tees Valley Unlimited, Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and regional development agency One North East, to see how it can take its expansion plans forward.

Matt Smith, strategic account manager at Tees Valley Unlimited, said: “It’s great to see this company, which has been based in Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley for a number of years, achieving such significant growth.

“We will work closely with SK’s management to ensure plans are supported and the company is able to grow.”

Richard Dowson, senior business development officer at Middlesbrough Council, said: “SK has built a strong reputation in its line of work and is one of the area’s most established employers. I am delighted the company is targeting growth and job creation and we’ll do everything we can to support them.”

Councillor Mark Hannon, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic development, added: “This is fantastic news. I am delighted at the creation of jobs and opportunities in the area.”