Nutrition firm recruits 20 staff and upgrades production to meet new demand

Blackpool-based international food supplement and health product manufacturer Nutrition Group has seen a dramatic rise in the demand for its immune system-boosting products during the coronavirus crisis.

The fast-growing contract manufacturer in the health supplements and sports nutrition sector has created 20 jobs, invested in faster machinery and increased its working hours to keep up with demand from customers.

Orders for Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc tablets increased by almost 100% year-on-year in February, with similar rises in March and April. The majority is destined for the UK mail order and online markets.

The family-owned business now employs 150 staff and has an annual turnover of £17m.

A global supplier to the dietary supplements, health and wellness and sports nutrition sectors, Nutrition Group supplies some of the world’s most renowned nutrition brands.

Its clients include major vitamin brands and well-known online sports nutrition businesses and health food multiples.

The company specialises in manufacturing tablets, capsules and protein bars for the health supplements market

The business, which was founded more than 25 years ago, currently produces two billion tablets and 500 million capsules a year.

Last year it invested £3m in a state-of-the-art protein bar production line with the capacity to make 50 million ‘energy bars’ a year.

The new facility was officially opened by Business Minister Lord Henley last May.

Nutrition Group chief executive, Richard Greathead, said: “We have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for products such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc which all help boost the immune system.

“The majority of our extra production is for UK online and mail order brands. These businesses have been very agile in the way they are able to continue to service the market and they are not reliant on bricks and mortar retail.

“As a result of the increase in our order books we have introduced a second shift on our protein bar line, doubling our capacity and creating an additional 20 skilled jobs.

“Our tableting and tablet coating operation has been boosted by the acquisition of new, faster machinery and we have introduced extra working hours in the factory to keep up with demand.”

Nutrition Group has introduced new measures to ensure social distancing for its workforce and visitors to its manufacturing facility on the edge of Blackpool, close to the M55 motorway.

Richard said: “The fact that we already operate to very high standard of hygiene and good manufacturing practices has meant that a lot of the requirements were already covered. It was a case of continuing to enforce current procedures.

“We have had to adapt how we manage the business and the majority of office staff have been asked to work from home.

“The transition has actually been very straightforward and is working very smoothly. Teams are communicating effectively with each other and output and efficiency is high.”