A BOOM in the sale of pre-packed sandwiches has led to the multimillion pound expansion of one of the city's most historic companies.
Jackson's Bakery, which was founded in the city 160 years ago and now employs 330 people, has established itself as the market leader for bread used in the high-street sandwich trade.
Each week more than a million loaves leave its factory – around 70 per cent of which are destined for pre-packed sandwiches to be sold in some of the UK's leading retailers.
Over the past eight years, Jackson's has invested �23 million in its plant and equipment.
Now rising demand from 'meal deal' sandwiches sold in the likes of Marks and Spencer and Tesco, has prompted the company to unveil a �5.5 million expansion plan.
It was yesterday given conditional approval by planners and the move will create around 40 new full-time jobs.
Jackson's previously revealed about 70 per cent of the bread used in pre-packed sandwiches in the UK is baked at its Hull factory.
Managing director James Watson said the proposals underlined the company's commitment to the city.
He said: "We do think we put Hull on the map in our own little way and are a success story for the city.
"We have been on this site since 1907. I think that says a lot about us as a business that we are in it for the long term.
"If you had asked us four years ago if we could have seen a time when we would be producing 1 million loaves a week we would have sat giggling in our chairs.
"But now we are there and are now looking to take the business to the next level."
Mr Watson pointed out a high proportion of the company's workforce had been employed for decades.
He added: "Of everything we need to buy to make our business function, about 50 per cent of it comes from within 50 miles of Hull.
"It is something we are terribly conscious of.
"If we are allowed to grow, clearly we can do more for the local area."
Mr Watson said the company's expansion hopes had been driven by its success both at home and abroad.
In addition to supplying bread for pre-packed sandwiches, the company also exports about 100,000 loaves a week to countries throughout the world including Hong Kong, the Falklands and the USA.
This success has seen the company double its turnover to more than �40million – without selling a single loaf direct to a member of the British public.
The �5.5m expansion, which has been given the go-ahead subject to final agreement on landscaping and sound mitigation issues, would add new buildings and new state-of-the-art equipment to add capacity to the site.
Mr Watson added: "In terms of growing the business in difficult times, we have grown our exports and we have grown strongly in the UK.
"We recently won a Queens Award for exports. Again I think that helps us to put Hull on the map in our own little way.
Councillor Alan Clarke described the expansion as "a wonderful proposal".
He added: "I think it is fantastic that Jackson's has been in this city for such a length of time and is now wanting to employ more people on the same site.
"Now they are producing a million loaves a week. Wow.
"I didn't know they produced that number.
"That is an amazing achievement."
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