A WORKWEAR supplier says it has defied industry regression to continue expanding.

MI Supplies, in Thornaby, near Stockton, says it strengthened its market standing in the first four months of the year.

According to latest figures, the company enjoyed growth of 13 per cent between January and April, which built on a busy 2015.

Earlier this year, MI Supplies’ revealed it will spend £100,000 and create jobs after seeing turnover hit £2.25m at the end of December.

Alex Ingham, managing director, said: “Our relentless drive for customer satisfaction, servicing to every customer, large or small, and a clear determination to have the best staff producing the best results is paying off.

“I’m delighted and proud of our achievements in the past 12 months – long may it continue.”

Mr Ingham previously told The Northern Echo the company, which is known for its workwear, clothing and personal protection services, and has a deal to supply supermarket Aldi, was targeting expansion.

The firm switched to a larger factory on Thornaby’s Teesside Industrial Estate to keep pace with its extensive order book, and aims to pick up work along the M62 corridor and the Midlands.

Mr Ingham said its new site, which is four times larger than its former base, gives scope to grow its workforce to about 20 and offer potential to look at other areas of the country.

He said: “There is an ideal opportunity to take someone on in a different location to help us look at work there, potentially in Leeds.

“That would allow us to start in West Yorkshire and Humberside, along the M62 corridor, but we could go to the Midlands.

“You do not necessarily need to be in companies’ localities in terms of warehousing to be able to manage their orders.

“We supply hundreds of Aldi stores and they get everything at the same time, when they expect it, wherever they are.”