Food oil firm invests £2m to open new depot

AN ambitious Strabane food oil company is investing £2m to open a new depot in Lisburn, to accommodate increased demand for its products in the area.

Frylite, which has its headquarters in Orchard Industrial Estate, will create at least 25 new jobs through this expansion. It is the firm’s sixth depot and adds to existing bases across Ireland.

The growing company presently employs 230 staff.

Martin Gormley, operations director, said the newest depot would meet the demands of its growing customer base in and around the Belfast region, an area previously served by its Strabane depot.

He said, “We are delighted to be able to make our mark on yet another part of the province in terms of growing our business but also contributing to the local economy through the creation of new roles.

“For decades, we have grown our client portfolio in and around the Belfast and Lisburn areas and those customers were serviced by our Strabane-based team. So, as our base grew, it made sense to open a new depot in that area.”

The opening comes as Frylite assigns 2021 as the year for its “green revolution”, during which it has plans to use its oil products to produce fuel via anaerobic digestion.

That process will allow it to power its fleet of vehicles and is just one of many green initiatives which will make it a carbon neutral business by 2030.

Managing director, Eamon McCay, said, “It is great to be able to grow our business and that is testament to the quality product and service that we offer customers who have continued to support us and contribute to our growth.”

The Lisburn facility was designed by Manor Architects and built by Omagh firm, Woodvale Construction, in conjunction with Frylite.

Meanwhile, the company is currently seeking new HGV drivers as the haulage industry struggles with a shortage of more than 100,000 drivers in the UK out of a pre-pandemic total of around 600,000, according to the Road Haulage Association.