Northern Ireland-based processed vegetable company Mash Direct plans to increase production capacity following a £10 million funding package from HSBC UK.
The business will install new solar and wind energy machinery and a new wastewater treatment facility at its production site in County Down.
As well as investing in robotics and enterprise management software, Mash will add more production lines to its industrial kitchen so that it can produce new dishes.
“With growing demand for our range of products at home and abroad, it was essential that we invested in new, environmentally friendly machinery and in the talented, skilled staff we currently have,” said Jack Hamilton, chief operating officer, Mash Direct.
“Improving our carbon footprint is very important to the business and great strides will be made to do this with our investment in new technology. HSBC UK shares our vision for growth and understands our immediate needs as a rapidly scaling SME in the agri-foods sector.”
During 2020, Mash Direct will hire 12 new staff members in roles ranging from operations and management to sales, marketing, exports and human resources.
Marty Colvin, relationship director in Northern Ireland, HSBC UK, said: “Mash Direct is an exciting and ambitious SME operating in a highly competitive and thriving sector. The improvements it is making to its farming operations with HSBC UK’s support will stand it in good stead as it aims to grow its market share and meet demand from customers across the UK and overseas.”
Mash Direct grows and produces approximately 40 processed vegetable and potato dishes and supplies supermarket chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op, Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes.
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