ONE of Britain's unemployment blackspots is to be the site for a new
mineral water plant which could create up to 100 jobs.
Two Scottish companies have joined forces to create Caledonian Clear,
a range of flavoured spring water and are now ready to expand into a
purpose-built plant near Sorn in Ayrshire.
The first sod was cut in a field near where the spring originates by
Mr George Foulkes, MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. By February,
a factory of 23,000 square feet will be providing work for 50 and
turning out 8.5 million cases a year.
Mr Foulkes said: ''I am always banging on about unemployment and how
it should be tackled in this area. It is real pleasure to be seeing
something positive being done.''
Mr Joe Woods, managing director of Beverage Brands, said: ''The demand
for our range of products has been tremendous and now demand is
outstretching our current manufacturing resources.
''This site is perfect because it is close to the source of the water
and is such a beautiful corner of Scotland. It will be a pleasant place
to work and our customers will be most impressed when they come here to
visit the place where the products originate.''
There are plans to increase production early next year and there is
room for further expansion on the site with other products being brought
to Sorn. Employment prospects are
excellent and could as much
as double within two years.
Councillor David Sneller, leader of Cumnock and Doon Valley District
Council, said: ''This is what local inward investment and enterprise
organisations are all about; encouraging investment in the area and
creating new jobs.''
Mr Freddy Williams, managing director of the partner company Afton
Spring, said: ''We have a great workforce and we hope to add to that as
soon as we can. The site is superb and the factory will be built in such
a way that it has the minimum impact on the surroundings.''
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