INTERNATIONAL Cuisine, the fast growing North-East manufacturer of chilled meals, is putting training firmly on the menu to support its continued expansion.

The company, in Consett, County Durham, is confident that new appointments linked to ambitious training and development plans for its 400 employees will play an important part in helping recruitment and future success.

International Cuisine's extensive range of chilled recipe dishes can be found in major UK supermarkets, and the company plans to expand its markets in France, Belgium and Scandinavia.

With the appointment of Nicole Thompson as human resources manager, Emma McPherson as technical manager and Jackie Lees as training manager, International Cuisine is strengthening its commitment to the development of its staff.

The company recently attained the Investor In People (IIP) standard with the help of County Durham's IIP team.

Recent developments include the provision of tailored in-house induction and other training courses, closer liaison with local colleges and universities, and welcoming work experience students from programmes such as Step, coordinated by the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency (DIDA).

"Over the past four years the company has grown at almost four times the rate of the UK market and this means that we need to attract good people to join the company," said managing director Bill Connolly.

"Training and development for all our employees is a very important part of our total commitment to product quality and first-class customer service.

"We needed to establish a sound base to help us move forward and to market the company to potential employees and working towards Investor In People has helped us do that."

Formed in 1988, International Cuisine is now owned by a Singapore group of companies and operates from a purpose- built facility, opened in 1998 by the Prince of Wales.

Sharon Branch, the company's Investor In People advisor, said. "County Durham is in top place in the region and fifth nationally for successful IIP awards, and that success is thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of companies like International Cuisine."