A FOOD company will today revealed a £150m expansion it says will support hundreds of North-East jobs.

Quorn is bolstering production lines at its factory in Billingham, near Stockton, in a ten-year plan aimed at shrugging off Brexit and creating a “billion dollar business”.

The move has been hailed as a fantastic vote of confidence in the plant by MP Alex Cunningham.

The Northern Echo understands the expansion will create and support around 300 jobs, with new management and operational staff needed to oversee the expanded site.

The project will also secure a significant number of existing construction jobs during building work.

Officials say the investment will help make its Billingham factory, which employs around 100 staff, the largest facility of its kind in the world.

Kevin Brennan, chief executive of the business, said the £150m plan will give the firm scope to increase its international presence, particularly in the US, Australia and Asia, despite the EU vote.

He also said the company, which has hundreds more workers at its head office in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, will go on benefitting from consumers’ desire to switch to alternative protein sources.

He added: “We are proud to be contributing to the UK’s export drive and to be investing in a British innovation vital to addressing the future need for protein across a growing global population.

“Our growth will continue as expected, regardless of the Brexit deal that is reached.

“In fact, this investment is indicative of our confidence in becoming a billion dollar brand in the next ten years.”

The company has already started work on a new forming line, separate to today’s announcement, which bosses say will help drive up production of goods such as mince, sausages and fillets.

It also previously spent £2m on a new plant to cut emissions.

Mr Cunningham, MP for the Stockton North constituency, which includes Billingham, said he was thrilled to see Quorn strengthen its presence in the town.

He told The Northern Echo: “I’m absolutely delighted that the business has placed further confidence in our community by investing here, creating many new jobs and strengthening their position in Billingham.

“We all know that every Quorn product starts its life in Billingham, and it’s great to have this vote of confidence.”

Back in 2014, the business revealed plans to create more than 300 jobs in a £30m extension of its Billingham plant to cope with demand for its meat substitute range.

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 main ingredient in its products is Mycoprotein, a dough created by fermenting fungus, which officials say is high in protein and fibre and low in saturated fat.