A MEAT-FREE burger and sausage maker has taken another step towards completing a £150m expansion plan after appointing a firm to oversee factory improvements.

Quorn says WSP will work on a new fermentation tower project at the business’ base in Billingham, near Stockton.

Bosses say the engineering consultancy will supervise the tower’s design and construction as part of a £35m project called BQ5, which when complete, will help bolster Quorn’s production output.

The update comes after Quorn chief executive Kevin Brennan told The Northern Echo that the company was pressing ahead with plans to recruit more than 100 workers to fuel an ongoing expansion supported by the Netflix generation’s desire for food change.

Highlighting work on a new manufacturing hub, expected to open in late summer, Mr Brennan said the investment will help meet rising international demand, revealing its Billingham work will be matched by commitments to open research and development centres to oversee global innovation and production methods at Stokesley, North Yorkshire, and Billingham, respectively.

Glen Slaymaker, industry director at WSP, which has offices in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, said the business was delighted to be supporting Quorn’s growth.

He said: “Securing this project continues our fantastic working relationship with (Quorn trademark holder) Marlow Foods, which now spans almost an entire decade.

“It also demonstrates the great work carried out by our existing project team and selected partners at the Belasis site in Billingham.

“We look forward to the successful delivery of this project, which is scheduled for completion during the early part of 2020.”

Speaking to the Echo in February, Mr Brennan said Quorn would continue its “relentless” drive to strengthen its market standing, revealing hopes that the plan will include workers from the former Walkers crisp plant in Peterlee, east Durham.

Talking after unveiling total annual sales of £205m and global growth of 16 per cent for 2017, he also said the business, which runs its head office out of Stokesley, has been helped by a change in customer attitude towards eating meat, with TV programmes on Netflix, such as Cowspiracy and Rotten, which look at factory farming, a rising factor.

“We are continuing a journey to create jobs and expand our team,” added Mr Brennan.

“Last year, we took on more than 200 people and this year it will be 100-plus. We are starting to see more younger consumers cut down on their meat consumption too.”