Capper Trading, a transport and logistics firm, is set to invest in a £15m expansion.
The family-owned firm currently employs 125 people at its headquarters off the M1 near Dungannon and has said the development of its new agri-development hub will create 40 new jobs in the area.
The Co Tyrone firm has been based near the Tamnamore Roundabout for 50 years, in which time it has grown into a £25m turnover company, supplying Northern Ireland’s agri-industries with a fleet of 50 lorries. In addition to transport, haulage and logistics, Capper also specialises in the sale of coal, oil and wood.
However, it is the production of animal feed and bedding that Capper says it sees the greatest potential.
Managing director, Philip Hill, stated: “The big driver for growth in our business has been the feed and on the bedding, that’s where we see big potential.
“Over the past five years the company has invested up to £5m in research and development on that side of the business. Support has also come from economic development agency Invest NI to the tune of £1.8m. The result has been a new form of pelletised straw bedding.
“We supply most of the poultry producers on the island of Ireland,” said Mr Hill. “We were the first to introduce that, and that was off the back of an R&D programme.”
Currently supplying over 500 agri-businesses, the company delivers 12-13,000 tonnes of animal feed to one of its key clients, poultry giant Moy Park, every week.
Mr Hill said innovation had been a constant feature in the company founded by Robert Capper on his family farm. Plans for the firm’s new development hub were sent to planning officials last week with Capper earmarking a site on the other side of the M1 for the new build.
The company said the construction phase will create 20 jobs over a 10-year programme, with an estimated £11.3m contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.
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