Yorkshire is top of the pops for food manufacturers

Ireland's largest snack food manufacturer Largo Food Exports has launched a new popcorn brand in the UK market, just 18 months after investing euro 450,000 in a production and warehousing facility in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Steve Seddon, md of Largo's UK arm Cornscape, adds: "We're delighted that less than two years after we set up the Barnsley site, our investment has been rewarded with the development and imminent launch of a new popcorn product that will rival those currently available on the UK market. Cornscape is proving very successful and has already expanded rapidly."

Explaining what convinced Largo to invest further in the region, Seddon said: "We were already familiar with the area and knew that grants were available from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward for start-up businesses. They duly contributed £120,000.

"This, along with the good communication links, the availability of a knowledgeable workforce and the value for money services that we get from our suppliers in the region, gave us the confidence to locate the new production facility in Barnsley."

Rachael Cowper, head of inward investment at Yorkshire Forward, says: "A lot of [foreign] companies [looking to set up business in the UK] are drawn to London, but costs are prohibitive. We have true sector strength in Yorkshire with excellent motorway logistics access and port access."

She explains that the area is home to a wealth of food firms. "We have five Icelandic fish companies on the River Humber, a large amalgamation of food processors and packers."