Oakland International is creating up to 400 local jobs with the launch of its new £4million Bardon warehouse.

The chilled and frozen food multi-temperature supply chain solutions, distribution, and logistics specialist went ahead with its phase one launch on Tuesday.

The site has capacity for 24,000 pallets and is being fitted out with refrigeration by the ethical family business.

The company will immediately recruit up to 120 people by the end of September, with a further 100 by the end of the year.

And it aims to employ even more staff over the coming year, providing job opportunities across the area.

Oakland International Chief Executive Dean Attwell stated: "Bardon has the capacity for up to 400 staff and, considering the business' growth direction, we should get to that level quite quickly.

"So we're very keen to take on people searching for new opportunities working within the food industry.

"We've already recruited between 90-100 with a target of 120 new employees by the end of September.

"Although we're new to the area, our policy has always been that wherever we operate we try and give something back to the local community, so we intend to operate an on-site food bank and create links with local schools."

Oakland invested £4million in fitting out the 225,000 sq. ft unit, and has plans already in place to install solar panels to make the warehouse carbon neutral.

Employing around 600 people, their head office is in Redditch, West Midlands with other facilities located in Corby, Dublin, and Worksop.

Oakland is a £40 million turnover business, operating 24-hours/7 days a week, one area of growth has been direct-to-consumer supplies, supporting many well-known brands and undertaking home deliveries of chilled, frozen, and ambient food parcels.

The company's move to Bardon was significantly influenced by the support and approach of  North West Leicestershire District Council and a fast response from the team at Logicor, with the Council's Chief Executive Bev Smith and district Councillor for Ellistown & Battleflat, Keith Merrie, MBE, in attendance for the official opening.

Councillor Tony Gillard, Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "We're working hard to encourage growth and new investment in North West Leicestershire, and it's excellent news that Oakland International are officially up and running at their new Bardon warehouse.

"Covid-19 has presented a lot of challenges to local economies across the country, but we're determined to ensure North West Leicestershire's continues to thrive and developments like this are a big part of making that happen.

"New jobs and new employment opportunities are needed in our district and it's a timely moment to be welcoming Oakland International to this site.†

Oakland International is a B2C/B2B specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and brand development support provider for ambient, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK, Ireland and via their partner in Spain.

It is also BRC AA accredited, a double Queen's Award for Enterprise recipient for International Trade and Sustainable Development and they are working towards becoming the first carbon-neutral business within its sector.