Cumbrian Seafoods to receive a grant from the Regional Growth Fund

A leading North East seafood supplier has been awarded a grant from the Regional Growth Fund to help it develop additional manufacturing capacity - with the promise of more than 100 new jobs, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Cumbrian Seafoods.

Cumbrian Seafoods, based at Foxcover Enterprise Park at Seaham, County Durham will use the undisclosed sum to convert an existing 130,000 square feet of storage space into a new seafood manufacturing facility

The development - which represents a further £7m investment in the site - will also highlight Cumbrian Seafoods' commitment to using green energy, with the new facility being largely powered by wind, photovoltaic cells and gas from anaerobic digestion.

 Peter Vassallo, Cumbrian Seafoods Chief Executive said "We are delighted to have been recognised by the Regional Growth Fund.

"I am particularly excited by the extent to which the project is to be fuelled by green energy sources. This builds on a number of initiatives that we have undertaken over the last four years to reduce our carbon footprint.

"It will be a first within our industry and highlights the importance that we attach to the environment and builds on our many years of promoting sourcing fish from responsibly managed fisheries."

The bid is as a result of a public-private sector partnership between Cumbrian Seafoods and County Durham Development Corporation and CDDC Managing Director, Stewart

Watkins, said he was "delighted" at the company's success.

"It's very satisfying to see one of County Durham's flagship companies being recognised and supported in this way," he said.

 "This grant will allow this already very successful business to develop further which can only be good for the region as a whole and of course it will also provide a great boost to the local jobs market in an area which sorely needs new employment opportunities."

Cumbrian Seafoods established its Seaham site in 2007 where it manufactures a range of prepack seafood products for the UK's major retailers. The company has already invested over £20 million in the facilities which are seen as industry leading and employs 500 staff.