A DARLINGTON carpet and flooring company has begun an expansion programme with the £500,000 launch of a new brand.

Createcity, the parent company of Maguires Wholesale Carpets and Frank's Factory Flooring, says it will mean new jobs and the need for a new head-quarters.

The company is in the bulk buying, wholesale and retail sectors and the new Cloverdale brand sees it enter the middle range carpet sector. It has been launched with 16 ranges, 60pc of which are produced exclusively by some of Europe's leading manufacturers including Hugh Mackay, McThree, Lano and Domo.

The brand also sees the company move into four and five-metre width carpets. It is hoped that the range will grow to 60 lines within two years, which will have a major impact on Createcity's operations.

That planned expansion will lead to Cloverdale brand operations taking over Createcity's base in Whessoe Road.

The existing head office, which includes the running of the Maguires and Franks brands will move to a new, as yet undecided, location.

Createcity has already received excellent feedback from within the industry following initial retail trials - which has already brought in orders.

An appearance at the National Flooring Show in Harrogate in September created considerable interest among retailers.

Jason Maguire, director of Createcity, said: "We are quite excited about the launch of Cloverdale as it marks a new departure for the company.

"We have successfully established ourselves in the wholesale and bulk markets and we felt it was time to expand into new areas.

"Cloverdale has been backed by some of the leading manufacturers in this market who, by designing and producing exclusive ranges for us, have signalled their belief that the new brand will be a success.

"The feedback we have received from retailers and other people within the industry has been extremely positive."

He added: "If the planned growth of Cloverdale meets our expectations we will have created the need to expand our operation to take in a new building, which we would hope will be in the North-East.

"We are very proud of our history in the area and the support the region has offered us."