Soup factory in Grimsby creates 200 jobs

A soup and ready meals factory has opened in Grimsby, creating 200 jobs.

Chilled food manufacturer Daniels Group spent £8m upgrading an empty factory at the town's Europarc business centre.

Workers will produce leading chilled soup brand New Covent Garden, as well as ready meals for supermarkets.

Managing director Nigel Parrot said: "We were looking for a site for a couple of years. Grimsby for us has the best workforce and has a real reputation in making great food."

The Leeds-based company said the Europarc centre was close to vegetable growers in Lincolnshire which would help to reduce the environmental impact of transporting produce.

The factory is on a site previously run by Mariner Foods, which closed in May 2008 with the loss of more than 500 jobs.

North East Lincolnshire Council's regeneration and housing chairman Councillor Geoff Lowis said: "We've seen one of the biggest increases in unemployment across the country so this is good news.

"We're pleased that a factory which was empty is now in use and building on the strength of our skilled labour force."