ONE of Tenbury's largest employers and fastest growing businesses has embarked upon another expansion.

Orchard Valley Foods that employs 80 people at its premises in Burford is expanding by opening a new warehouse in Leominster.

The news comes as another step forward for the business that started from a front room and is now exporting all over the world including Australia.

“We have just signed a 10 year lease on large warehousing facilities (43,000 sq ft for 5,500 pallet spaces) in the Leominster Enterprise Park on Clinton Road,” said managing director Mike Forrester.

“This will allow us to consolidate our UK external storage and the Clinton Road site will become our UK distribution hub managed by ourselves, serving up to 700 customers in the UK and abroad.

“The site will also service our packing operation in Tenbury with raw materials and packaging. Initially we will be creating three new jobs in Leominster but expect that to increase as we make full use of the facility.”

Orchard Valley Foods provides ingredients for the baking and confectionary industry as well as supplying to home bakers.

“Over the last 10 years we have become one of the largest employers in Tenbury with almost 80 full time staff by the end of this month and a continuing requirement for temporary workers in peak times,” said Mr Forrester.

It is intended that there will be a public event to open the facility in Leominster.

But this is not an end to the expansion because there is also a product development kitchen being opened at the Burford site.

This is part of the research and development activity undertaken by the company as it responds to the changing needs of its UK and global customers.

In 2014, Orchard Valley Foods announced the acquisition of Food Ingredients International Limited, complementing and further adding to its existing specialist ingredients business and taking sales to more than £20million annually.

The company recently won a best business award from the Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce and has also developed a training programme for employees in conjunction with the University of Worcester.

Most of the Orchard Valley employees come from Tenbury and the surrounding area.

The company has been involved in sponsoring a number of events including the Tenbury Music Festival.