A NORTH-EAST food firm which makes a million ready meals a week is serving up a jobs bonanza in a former steel town. International Cuisine, based in Consett, County Durham is embarking on a major recruitment drive after creating 150 new jobs to meet a massive order from a leading supermarket chain.

The firm, a subsidiary of the Daniels Group, supplies everything from bangers and mash to gourmet Italian dishes which line the shelves of the UK's leading food retailers and small convenience stores.

Britons ate more than £2bn-worth of chilled ready meals last year and rising demand for luxury ranges and family meals will see International Cuisine step-up operations from five-days-a-week to round-the-clock manufacturing at its factory on Hownsgill Industrial Park; a site of the towns former steelworks.

Since it was established in 1988 with 14 staff on No.1 Industrial Estate, Consett the firm has become one of the biggest employers in Derwentside, and will have about 730 workers following its latest expansion. Tom Weldon, site operations director, explained why the company has flourished at a time when rival firms have struggled to survive.

"We have been a success story because we are able to help our customers grow their business," he said.

"In light of recent events, which have seen either downsizing or closure of several companies connected to the food manufacturing industry here in the North-East, our situation looks very, very positive an is great news for jobseekers.

"We have terrific respect for our staff and without their loyal support over the past 20 years, we would not have arrived at this situation. We are set to grow our business substantially and this is an opportunity for people to join a winning team.

"We invested in new equipment, which has allowed us to improve our offering to customers, and now its about putting people in place from new production managers to shop floor staff.

"The sector is a whole different ball game to when we first started, people are looking for convenience and high quality. We offer the full portfolio of products so when supermarkets extend their range we are able to grow accordingly. There has been an increase in demand for gourmet convenience food which is driven by customers who are eating-out less often but still want to treat themselves."

In 1998 HRH the Prince of Wales opened the companys 60,000 sq ft purpose-built factory and four years later a major extension was completed.