A £40 million investment and 100 new jobs were announced on Tuesday at Kennedy Way’s Delta Print and Packaging.
First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, along with Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster joined a host of distinguished guests and local representatives to make the announcement at the manufacturing plant.
Based at Kennedy Way for the past 30 years, Delta designs and manufactures printed carton packaging, primarily for the retail food, consumer electronics, household goods and pharmaceutical sectors. The company designs for blue chip global companies like KFC, McDonalds, Nestlé and Nokia.
As a result of the investment announcement staff numbers will rise from 169 to 269.
Speaking after the announcement, Delta Chairman and joint Managing Director Terry Cross said it would enable the company “to go to the next level”.
“We are making this major investment in response to opportunities to grow sales across a number of existing customer accounts, in particular with McDonald’s, as well as acquiring new accounts,” he said. “Invest NI’s support has been vital in enabling us to invest in custom-built, high technology plant and machinery, to extend the factory at Kennedy Way and recruit and train 100 new staff including European and Marketing personnel.”
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said he welcomed the fact that £4.5 million of the overall £40 million investment package will come from the Stormont Executive.
“The senior management and staff of Delta Print have to be commended for their commitment and dedication in attracting this investment, but more importantly, for securing the business and customer base that it currently has,” he said.
“Delta Print are world leaders in print and packaging and are world renowned for their professionalism and the quality of their product. They are second to none.
“Delta Print have already hundreds of people employed in West Belfast and around the world but this further investment from the Executive will increase the workforce by 100 in my constituency. This is a great day for West Belfast.”
First Minister Peter Robinson said the £40 million investment and the 100 new jobs is good news for the local economy and reinforces the company’s 30-year commitment to invest and re-invest in Belfast.
“Delta has developed strong, long-term relationships with a number of blue-chip companies and its consistent high volume production has enabled the company to substantially increase its turnover across Europe and the US,” he said.
“Delta’s decision to expand marks the next stage of its development and will allow it to further increase export sales and continue to service its key clients.”
Deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness said: “This is a significant boost for our local manufacturing sector and for West Belfast. Delta Print and Packaging generate annual wages and salaries of £8 million a year to the local economy and this announcement is good news for existing and potential employees and other local businesses.”
As well as creating new jobs, the investment will see the company extend its factory and install state-of-the-art machinery and bespoke technology to enable it to increase capacity and efficiency.
Junior Minister Jennifer McCann said the major investment was “good news for West Belfast”.
“Delta Print has a long history in the area and despite having the option to move its operation overseas remained committed to investment in it's Kennedy Way Plant, and to its employees who work there,” she said. “This announcement will see a major expansion, which will also bring up to 60 jobs through its construction stage. It will also bring added economic benefits to the West Belfast community."
SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said: “This is great news for Terry Cross, Delta Packaging, its workers, West Belfast, manufacturing and NI exports. I have worked with Terry and his team both on the planning for the new factory and the Invest NI funding package. Terry and Delta deserve huge credit.”
