Rasharkin kitchen specialist announces expansion

Invest Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive Alastair Hamilton has announced the expansion of Rasharkin-based company Woodland Kitchens.

The company designs and manufactures a range of cabinets for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector working out of its 65,000 sq ft facility.

Alastair Hamilton has announced that the Co Antrim firm is investing £764,000 to take on 23 new staff and target new export business with the aim of doubling turnover within three years.

Mr Hamilton said: “This significant investment by Woodland Kitchens will enable it to ramp up its marketing activity to increase sales in its target markets of Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands.

“Its ambitious growth plan includes creating 23 new jobs and increasing export sales of its innovative new branded kitchen range. It demonstrates that a quality product coupled with a focus on exporting can deliver business success even in difficult economic conditions.”

Woodland Kitchens is a family owned business that currently employs 41. It received its first order from the Netherlands earlier this year and has also secured sales in Saudi Arabia.

Brian McCloskey, Managing Director of the company, says: “The very positive response we have had to the recent launch of our new ‘Livin’ range prompted us to develop this expansion plan. Having had support from Invest NI to bring the Livin range to market, we approached it again for support to build our capacity to meet the anticipated growth in sales.

“The support we have received has helped us to begin recruitment quickly and undertake targeted marketing activity in key markets.”