A FOOD container maker has announced international expansion plans.

Faerch Plast, which has a plant near Durham City, is targeting Australia, New Zealand, the US and the Middle East.

The firm says it is building a network of distributors to market its frozen and chilled meal packaging as well as containers, which are designed to seal fresh meats.

Joe Iannindardo, sales director for overseas markets, said: “We have created an impressive customer base in Europe and are looking forward to working with distributors to replicate this across the rest of the world.”

The company’s Dragonville Industrial Estate site makes ready meal trays and packaging, and is being fitted with an extrusion line and thermoformers to make and cut its plastic packaging.

Earlier this year, Faerch told The Northern Echo it remains on course to employ 150 North-East staff after benefiting from strong demand for its British-made products.

The firm hopes to extend its existing 60-strong workforce, while fitting equipment to double production capacity.

Speaking to The Northern Echo in January, Jason Gale, Faerch’s UK sales director and acting managing director, said: “We have expanded faster than we thought and expect our workforce to grow by 50 per cent in 2015.

“We are not a UK company, but we have a UK site, and that ticks a lot of boxes.

“The major factor in the decision to move to Durham was that we would be closer to customers.”

Faerch was founded in 1869 as a tobacco company.

It now employs about 500 staff across factories in Durham City, Denmark and the Czech Republic.