A MEAT substitute firm will continue creating jobs in the region to maintain its standing as a leading light in Northern business, its boss has vowed.

Quorn is plotting international growth after being sold to Philippines-based Monde Nissin for £550m.

Kevin Brennan, Quorn chief executive, told The Northern Echo the deal will throw open new avenues to explore, including Asian markets, to build on its repute with European and US customers.

He said the agreement with its Philippines’ suitors will have no impact on Quorn’s Northern roots, which includes employing about 600 workers at its headquarters in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

Mr Brennan said Quorn, which has built a third fermenter at its sister site in Billingham, near Stockton, to lift production, will proudly grow from the area that has helped its stature soar.

That focus is expected to create hundreds of jobs and support hundreds more in the supply chain in the coming years.

He said: “We have always liked being based here.

“We have a good workforce at both sites and take a lot of pride in our position as being an exporter from the North-East.

“The region needs businesses doing well and prospering.

“What we do is unique and we have built the third fermenter at Billingham.

“That can only mean more jobs, rather than less, which is fabulous.”

Quorn was sold to Monde Nissin after the latter agreed a deal with Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group.

Exponent bought Quorn from Premier Foods in 2011, and Mr Brennan said while the intervening period had been good for the business, now was the time to accelerate its growth, with Asia one of its targets.

He added: “This deal gives us a permanent owner who wants to invest in the business for the long-term.

“We had a very successful time under private equity, but we needed something else to meet our potential.

“We have now got that.

“We have done a lot of exciting work in the last five years in Asia and we know there are exciting opportunities there.

“There are pockets of opportunities around places like Malaysia, Singapore and India, and we will work with Nissin to see if that is something they can help with.”

The sale is due to be completed by the end of the month.

WHAT IS QUORN?

The main ingredient is a plant protein replicating meat's texture and taste;

It was developed in the 1960s amid fears of a shortage in protein-rich foods;

Quorn as a retail product was first produced in 1985 by Marlow Foods;

The company uses double Olympic Games and double world champion runner Mo Farah to front its advertising campaign.