An award winning Lochaber food manufacturer has recently expanded into new premises in a bid to meet demand for their special seafood dishes, resulting in 23 new jobs for the area.

Sco Fro (Lochaber) Limited, winners of the 'Supreme' award at the 1999 Royal Highland Show and a 'Silver' award from the British Frozen Food Federation in the same year, have moved to a second unit at the Annat Point Industrial Estate, Fort William. The new premises are dedicated to the company's value added range, which includes a variety of luxury seafoods in sauces, allowing them to improve efficiency and output.

Glasgow-based Sco Fro Foods established the Lochaber arm of the business in 1994, originally processing prawns and scallops. Following the installation of a grading machine, Sco Fro (Lochaber) began to process prawn tails as a value-added product and were quick to realise the growth potential of adding value to their produce.

With help from Lochaber Limited, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, Sco Fro (Lochaber) established their "So Special" range in 1998 supplying supermarket chains throughout Europe. The range includes dishes such as a luxury shellfish selection in a thermidor sauce or a Scottish fish medley with a spinach and mascarpone sauce.

The relocation of the "So Special " production line to their second unit at Annat Point and the introduction of an e-commerce website presents the company with a further growth opportunity.

Growing businesses is a priority for Lochaber Limited who have helped Sco Fro with their recent expansion with a £53,000 investment package. The funding has gone towards the upgrading of the firm's second unit with new equipment including a vacuum packing machine for the direct delivery service, allowing produce to be offered on the website.

Sco Fro (Lochaber) currently employs 65 people and is dedicated to developing staff and skills, providing extensive training for employees. This has led to the company becoming an Approved Centre to deliver SVQ's in Food Manufacturing Operations.

Production Director at Sco Fro (Lochaber), Dick Wailes said: "Moving our "So Special" range to a second site presents us with the opportunity to increase our output, reduce the seasonality of the traditional business and to further develop the reputation for quality which Sco Fro has built up."

Jackie Wright, chief executive at Lochaber Limited said: "Growing businesses are the key to Lochaber's prosperity and Sco Fro is a company with serious growth potential. They are also a significant employer in the area and will have nearly 90 staff when their move to the second premises is complete.

"The company is also helping to put Lochaber on the food map of Europe with their high quality, gourmet seafood dishes, which are exported to some of the continent's biggest supermarket chains."