New jobs as Brighton and Hove food giant expands (From The Argus)

New jobs as Brighton and Hove food giant expands

4:40pm Friday 23rd November 2012 in News By John Keenan, business editor

A global importing and exporting business is creating scores of new jobs.

Infinity Foods is moving from its home in Norway Street, Portslade, to the former Edwards plant in Shoreham.

The firm will convert the plant into a 70,000 sq ft factory with a state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution unit.

The company is one of the most successful in the city and has a well-known retail operation in North Road.

Dom Ferrari, spokesman at Infinity, said: “We aim to move early in the New Year. The firm has outgrown its site.

"We are going from 41,000 square feet to 70,000 square feet, which means we can operate much more efficiently.”

The property in Dolphin Road in Shoreham has been empty since technology group Edwards quit the site and laid off 100 people when it moved its manufacturing base to South Korea and the Czech Republic.

New homes

Infinity Foods has sold the Norway Street warehouse to Taylor Wimpey for around £1.5 million. It has been ear-marked for mixed-use development in the Brighton and Hove City Plan.

Stephen Owen, managing partner at commercial property agents Graves Son and Pilcher, said contracts were exchanged between Infinity Foods and the house builder yesterday (November 22).

It is also understood that up to 31 homes will be built on the site.

Ash Spearing, senior land manager for Taylor Wimpey South West Thames, said: “Taylor Wimpey has agreed to purchase the Infinity Foods site in Portslade, facilitating the expansion plans of Infinity, which has outgrown its existing premises and will be relocating to larger premises.

“Taylor Wimpey plans to commence community consultation with residents and key stakeholders early in the New Year to shape proposals for a mixed-use scheme for the Portslade site, including family housing and flexible employment space.”

Meanwhile an industrial pump manufacturer is set to create 18 new jobs in the county.

Ram Pumps has applied to move to Hazlewood Trading Estate in Worthing from their existing site in Dominion Way also in Worthing.

The manufacturing company has also applied to install a diesel generator water cooling plant and storage cages for gas canisters.

See the latest news headlines from The Argus:

• Police release pictures of brothers wanted in connection with Hove shooting
• Albion sex trial jury sent out to consider verdict
• Smart return for circus
• M23 northbound near Pease Pottage closed after lorry fire
• Man struck by lorry on A27 in Worthing has died

More news from The Argus

Follow @brightonargus

Like us on Facebook

 Add us to your circles on Google+