Morelli’s completes major investment
Morelli’s Ice Cream, a Food NI member, has completed the final phase of a three-year investment programme with support from Ulster Bank.
The family-run business has invested £350,000 to expand its Coleraine base, including expanding its production and storage facilities, adding 3,300 sq ft to the now 10,000 sq ft north coast factory, and modernising its head offices.
The latest phase forms part of a £700,000 investment drive launched by Morelli’s in 2015.
Arnaldo Morelli said: “Following an extensive three-year investment programme, our newly expanded Coleraine facility is now fully operational. We were operating near to full capacity, producing 700,000 litres annually. The investment has enabled us to almost treble production capacity to two million litres per year.”
The company is now looking to expand into new export markets.
Arnaldo added: “As well as our own family stores, we supply supermarkets and hundreds of independent retailers across Northern Ireland. This investment will enable us to increase exports to ROI and explore new markets in GB, safe in the knowledge that we have the capacity to fulfil growing consumer demand.”
Rhonda McClelland, business development manager at Ulster Bank, said: “The Morelli brand is steeped in tradition and a shining example of Northern Ireland’s growing list of quality food and drink producers.
“We’re extremely proud to support the Morelli family as they expand their business and explore export opportunities to new markets.”
The Morelli family has been making ice cream in Northern Ireland since 1911.
