A COFFEE company that specialises in creating unusual flavours of the hot drink is expanding, leading to further job opportunities.

Beanies Flavour Coffee, based in Darlington, is to expand its base by 2,000 sq ft.

The extension will be a 40 per cent increase on the size of the current site.

Beanies have been creating specialist coffee flavours since 2009, including the likes of chocolate orange, cookie dough and coconut.

The company sells its coffee through its website, and its products can also be bought in leading supermarkets i Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

John Evans, managing director of Beanies, said the expansion was necessary following the firm’s rapid recent growth.

“We needed an increase in space because we’ve been growing quickly and couldn’t cope with the existing facilities.

“We have invested in new technology and we have two or three new products coming out over the next six months.

“We will probably run out of room again soon” said Mr Evans.

Mr Evans added the expansion could lead to further job opportunities at Beanies in the coming months.

“It is already being done. We started with three people and we are now up to 16. Hopefully we will have 20 employees by the end of the year.

“We are all about innovation and are constantly creating new flavours and our Beanies community is something we are very proud of.”

Beanies was recently nominated in the Export Team of the Year award in the 2016 North East Exporters Awards.

The awards aim to recognise the efforts of companies that are making a huge contribution to both the regional and UK economies.

“We were the only food company in all of the categories. The export awards are usually dominated by engineering firms.

“We have only been registered for three and a half years – since April 2013.

“Since then, things have gone well for us. We’ve moved into the new factory at Faverdale and we are selling in 16 other countries.

Earlier this year, Beanies announced it was to become a sponsor of Darlington Rugby Club.

“We are coming up to the busiest time of the year. We have new products launching and new flavours coming out” said Mr Evans “There is an awful lot going on” he added.