A frozen food manufacturer and retailer has secured a £16million funding package to build a new 25,000sq ft facility in Sittingbourne.

The kitchen facility close to Cook's existing site on Eurolink Way, will initially create 80 jobs with hopes of that number blooming to 200 within four years.

The investment will increase its capacity to create its hand-prepared meals by more than 60 per cent and boast new freezing technology which will improve efficiency and the quality of its best-selling recipes.

Edward Perry, co-chief executive officer of Cook, said: “Our existing kitchen facility is at full capacity, so we needed additional space to be able to achieve our plan of doubling our sales in five years.

"Our new site has given us total confidence that we will achieve our goal and, at the same time, allow us to continue to improve both our manufacturing process and products. It will also enable us to recruit 80 new members of staff initially, with a view to grow to a total headcount of 200 new staff over the next three to four years.”

The funding for the project was secured from HSBC UK.

Its area director, Dan Russel, said: "I’m confident the company will use this as a platform for significant growth in the future and look forward to seeing what the team achieves."

Founded in 1997, Cook now sells through 90 stores across the UK and in over 500 concessions.

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