Growth in gluten-free sales drives £2.5m manufacturing expansion

Growth in gluten-free sales drives £2.5m manufacturing expansion

Work has started on a £2.5m warehousing expansion for Dalziel Ingredients, as demand doubles for its gluten-free options on bespoke seasoning blends, cures and functional ingredients.

The UK specialist is adding a new 16,000 sq ft warehousing facility – equivalent to a storage capacity of 1400 pallet spaces – at its Felling, Gateshead factory and new product development centre.

And it is installing a fourth high speed automated packing line with the latest checkweigher technology and metal detection capabilities.

Completion is expected early 2018 in a move that will add another 10 new jobs to its 100-strong workforce based in Gateshead, explained Dalziel Ingredients sales director Richard Wilson.

“Our sales have grown year on year and this expansion enables us to invest in raw materials in much larger volumes to increase our efficiencies.

“It enables us to increase our production capacity to make us as flexible as possible, so we maintain the high levels of customer service we’ve built our business on.”

Dalziel Ingredients has seen increased demand across all its seasoning blends, having expanded into new markets such as snack seasonings.

Volumes have more than doubled over the last three years for its gluten free products.  The new facility expands Dalziel’s capability to handle the complexities of ‘free from’ manufacturing, added Mr Wilson.

“We’re increasing production of gluten free products because we have the expertise in developing them and a dedicated gluten-free production line to produce them safely to the highest standards.

“The rise in gluten free means we almost need a gluten-free option for every product we develop.”

All Dalziel Ingredients’ products – seasonings, complete mixes, rubs, glazes, functional blends, batters, crumbs, snack seasonings, cures and brines – can be developed as gluten free, and existing products can re reformulated to be gluten free.

A wide range of the company’s finished products are certified gluten-free by Coeliac UK, and are licensed to carry the Crossed Grain symbol.

The importance of this investment in the business is ‘massive,’ said Mr Wilson.

“As we continue to open up new markets and sectors we need to have the production capacity and the flexibility to ensure we build on our unrivalled customer service levels.”

Using traditional and authentic ingredients from growers worldwide, Dalziel specialises in creating bespoke seasoning blends and flavoured batter systems at its purpose built, BRC accredited factory in William Street, Felling.

Dalziel Ingredients has been based at its current site for over 40 years and is one of the largest employers in the area.

“Huge demand for our products and NPD capabilities means the next phase of development will be to expand our NPD function. We are proud to be investing in the area and in people, in a market where others are trying to cut back and remove cost.”

Dalziel Ingredients is a division of the Dalziel Group, which has a heritage as a market leading, family owned food service specialist going back nearly 90 years.

For more information, visit www.dalzielingredients.co.uk or tel: 0191 469 3078 or email info@dalzielingredients.co.uk