Latest news with #InvestNI
ITV News
5 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Newry sandwich firm's multi-million pound investment creates jobs and upskills workforce
Some 130 jobs are to be created at a sandwich firm in Co Down. Deli Lites is planning a £12.8 million investment to automate the company's production and broaden its product range. The move is being supported by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment Initiative, while a further £6 million investment by the company is to help upskill the existing workforce and create 130 jobs in Warrenpoint. The new jobs include senior positions such as a new chief commercial officer. Deli Lites was established in 1998 by husband and wife Brian and Jackie Reid and supplies fresh gourmet sandwiches and food-to-go products to convenience stores, supermarkets, major coffee chains and international airlines. Its customers include Applegreen, Costa Coffee, Aer Lingus and American Airlines. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald hailed the investment. 'The north's food and drink processing sector is a true local success story, with latest statistics showing that it generates £6.5 billion in sales and supports over 25,500 jobs across our towns and countryside,' she said. 'This investment will unlock significant growth opportunities for Deli Lites in this exciting sector. 'Increased capacity and new automated equipment will boost productivity and enable it to expand its fresh and frozen ranges, growing its sales in Britain and Ireland, and open up additional export markets. 'With 78% of our food and drink sold outside the north, this industry showcases the quality, innovation, and global appeal of what we produce right here at home. 'The creation of 130 new jobs in Warrenpoint, which will help leverage almost £10 million in wages and salaries across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area by 2027, is also good news as we work to deliver a more regionally balanced economy.' Brian Reid, chief executive at Deli Lites, said: 'Since our beginnings over 30 years ago, we are now an all-Ireland business with export sales growing in international markets. 'We've always been a trailblazer in our sector, shown when we became the first sandwich maker in the UK and Ireland to achieve B Corp certification.' Jackie Reid, co-founder and CSO at Deli Lites, said: 'Bringing even more products to our snacking and convenience range and investing in production and automation will significantly increase our capacity and customer reach. 'We're delighted to be growing our team in Warrenpoint to bring further expertise into the business and help us achieve our vision, to transform how the world experiences food on the move.' Grainne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, said the project builds on its previous support for the firm to develop its product range for the European market. 'Its success has positioned the company to become a key supplier for the global airlines sector,' she said. 'This new project will increase innovation and boost productivity by transforming labour-intensive processes and increasing digitalisation.
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Down food manufacturer plans 130 new jobs as part of £19m investment
Deli Lites is set to spend £19m increasing automation, broadening product ranges and upskilling the current workforce, along with hiring new staff. The company is also aiming to reduce food waste by as much as 50%, expand its heat-to-eat product range, and grow its business in supplying food to airlines. Of the overall investment, £12.8m will be spent on increasing automation, while £6m will be used for upskilling current staff and hiring others. The investment was announced during an event at Deli Lites' Warrenpoint facility on Thursday, which was attended by the Economy Minister. Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: 'The North's food and drink processing sector is a true local success story, with latest statistics showing that it generates £6.5bn in sales and supports over 25,500 jobs across our towns and countryside. 'This investment will unlock significant growth opportunities for Deli Lites in this exciting sector. 'Increased capacity and new automated equipment will boost productivity and enable it to expand its fresh and frozen ranges, growing its sales in Britain and Ireland, and open up additional export markets. 'With 78% of our food and drink sold outside the North, this industry showcases the quality, innovation, and global appeal of what we produce right here at home. 'The creation of 130 new jobs in Warrenpoint, which will help leverage almost £10m in wages and salaries across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area by 2027, is also good news as we work to deliver a more regionally balanced economy.' Deli Lites was founded by husband and wife Brian and Jackie Reid in 1998. It makes sandwiches and other food-to-go products, with its customers including Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Applegreen and Costa Coffee. CEO Brian Reid said: 'We are now an all-Ireland business with export sales growing in international markets. 'We've always been a trailblazer in our sector, shown when we became the first sandwich maker in the UK and Ireland to achieve B Corp certification.' Jackie Reid, chief strategy officer, added: 'Bringing even more products to our snacking and convenience range and investing in production and automation will significantly increase our capacity and customer reach. 'We're delighted to be growing our team in Warrenpoint to bring further expertise into the business and help us achieve our vision, to transform how the world experiences food on the move.' Deli Lites' investment is being backed by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment Initiative, a £46m scheme designed to 'support local agri-food and drink processors to improve competitiveness and productivity'. Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, said: 'This significant project builds on our previous support for Deli Lites to develop its product range for the European market. Its success has positioned the company to become a key supplier for the global airlines sector. 'This new project will increase innovation and boost productivity by transforming labour-intensive processes and increasing digitalisation. Our overseas trade teams are also working with Deli Lites to explore new international markets as it grows.'
ITV News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin in action as Open Championship begins at Royal Portrush
The wait is finally over and the Open Championship is in full swing at Royal Portrush, with Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin among those competing for the Claret Jug. Ireland's Padraig Harrington had the honour of getting the tournament underway when he hit the first tee shot at 6.35pm on Thursday morning. The 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Opens in 2007 and 2008, received a huge welcome from supporters and he later admitted he was "a little emotional". Harrington said: "It was definitely it felt like they were there for me, giving me a clap." Teeing off in the first group was Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin, and he led from the front on a testing morning for scoring at Royal Portrush. The highlight for the 22-year-old was an eagle at the par-five seventh. Rory McIlroy got his round underway this afternoon and was cheered on by the crowd as he recovered from a bogey on the first hole to move up the leaderboard with three birdies in the next six holes. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have hailed the return of The Open as showcasing Northern Ireland to the world. During a visit to the first day of the golf tournament at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Ms O'Neill said they were lucky to see it return after it was staged there in 2019 following a 68-year absence. The ministers were among an estimated 50,000 spectators who descended on the north coast town on Thursday for what has been described as the biggest sports event in terms of spectators held in Northern Ireland. 'It's great to be here again, to have The Open back with us again, and just in terms of what it means for us, in terms of the economic potential, so many visitors that come in person, millions that get online to watch what's happening as well. 'So I think that it's such a positive event for us, and we're so lucky to have it back in the north west,' Ms O'Neill. 'It showcases all that's good about us. I think it very much sends a message that we're open for business and I think that when people tune in and they'll see this beautiful part of the world, they'll know that the island is amazing, they should want to come here and we will very much will be promoting that message.' Ms Little-Pengelly described a 'real opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland' with a 'huge global audience watching'. 'Seeing the beauty of what's here, seeing how professional the set-up is here, and hearing about Northern Ireland,' she said. 'That's huge because, of course, in a very crowded marketplace, when it comes to trying to attract that investment, attract that tourism, attract that high-value golf tourism as well, actually getting the opportunity at the likes of The Open with that really, really huge global audience, is that really good unique opportunity for us. 'I know that Tourism NI and Invest NI are really trying to maximise the opportunities of this tournament being here, the biggest sporting event, as I understand, in terms of spectators that we've ever held in Northern Ireland.'
South Wales Guardian
17-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Northern Ireland's leaders hail return of The Open to Portrush
During a visit to the first day of the golf tournament at the Royal Portrush Golf Club Michelle O'Neill said they were lucky to see it return after it was staged there in 2019 following a 68-year absence. Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly were among an estimated 50,000 spectators who descended on the north coast town on Thursday for what has been described as the biggest sports event in terms of spectators held in Northern Ireland. 'It's great to be here again, to have The Open back with us again, and just in terms of what it means for us, in terms of the economic potential, so many visitors that come in person, millions that get online to watch what's happening as well. 'So I think that it's such a positive event for us, and we're so lucky to have it back in the north west,' Ms O'Neill. 'It showcases all that's good about us. I think it very much sends a message that we're open for business and I think that when people tune in and they'll see this beautiful part of the world, they'll know that the island is amazing, they should want to come here and we will very much will be promoting that message.' Ms Little-Pengelly described a 'real opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland' with a 'huge global audience watching'. 'Seeing the beauty of what's here, seeing how professional the set-up is here, and hearing about Northern Ireland,' she said. 'That's huge because, of course, in a very crowded marketplace, when it comes to trying to attract that investment, attract that tourism, attract that high-value golf tourism as well, actually getting the opportunity at the likes of The Open with that really, really huge global audience, is that really good unique opportunity for us. 'I know that Tourism NI and Invest NI are really trying to maximise the opportunities of this tournament being here, the biggest sporting event, as I understand, in terms of spectators that we've ever held in Northern Ireland.'
Rhyl Journal
17-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Northern Ireland's leaders hail return of The Open to Portrush
During a visit to the first day of the golf tournament at the Royal Portrush Golf Club Michelle O'Neill said they were lucky to see it return after it was staged there in 2019 following a 68-year absence. Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly were among an estimated 50,000 spectators who descended on the north coast town on Thursday for what has been described as the biggest sports event in terms of spectators held in Northern Ireland. 'It's great to be here again, to have The Open back with us again, and just in terms of what it means for us, in terms of the economic potential, so many visitors that come in person, millions that get online to watch what's happening as well. 'So I think that it's such a positive event for us, and we're so lucky to have it back in the north west,' Ms O'Neill. 'It showcases all that's good about us. I think it very much sends a message that we're open for business and I think that when people tune in and they'll see this beautiful part of the world, they'll know that the island is amazing, they should want to come here and we will very much will be promoting that message.' Ms Little-Pengelly described a 'real opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland' with a 'huge global audience watching'. 'Seeing the beauty of what's here, seeing how professional the set-up is here, and hearing about Northern Ireland,' she said. 'That's huge because, of course, in a very crowded marketplace, when it comes to trying to attract that investment, attract that tourism, attract that high-value golf tourism as well, actually getting the opportunity at the likes of The Open with that really, really huge global audience, is that really good unique opportunity for us. 'I know that Tourism NI and Invest NI are really trying to maximise the opportunities of this tournament being here, the biggest sporting event, as I understand, in terms of spectators that we've ever held in Northern Ireland.'
