Generic white button mushrooms growing

Northern Irish mushroom supplier Hughes is opening a new site in England to meet increasing demand.

The family business, based in Dungannon, County Tyrone, has invested in a multimillion-pound production facility near Howden, East Yorkshire.

The first phase of the facility, which will compliment the company’s existing operations in Northern Ireland, is due to be operational from September, with mushrooms available to consumers from the middle of the month.

The 11-acre site was chosen for its proximity to major motorways and the region’s strong agricultural heritage, the company said.

Hughes has doubled its turnover in the last six years, with its 20 independent growers supplying most of the major UK retailers.

The new plant will create 70 jobs, and this number is expected to rise to 100 by the end of 2017.

Emmet Hughes, business development director at the company, said: “The world-class facility we’re creating in East Yorkshire is unrivalled in Europe in terms of its efficiency and environmentally-friendly credentials.

“It has been developed after extensive research with some of the world’s most successful producers.”