Work has started on a £2.5m (US$3.2m) warehousing expansion for UK blends specialist Dalziel Ingredients, as demand doubles for gluten-free ingredients. The company is adding a new 16,000 sq. ft. warehousing facility – equivalent to a storage capacity of 1,400 pallet spaces – at its Felling, Gateshead factory and new product development center.

It is also installing a fourth high speed automated packing line with the latest check-weigher 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,” he explains. 

Dalziel Ingredients has seen increased demand across all its seasoning blends and has 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, adds 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 be 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.

According to Wilson, the importance of this investment in the business is huge. 

“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 unrivaled customer service levels.”

Using traditional and authentic ingredients from growers worldwide, Dalziel specializes in creating bespoke seasoning blends and flavored 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 wher others are trying to cut back and remove cost,” he finalizes.