Kitchen and bathroom manufacturer Mereway has added another 2,000sq ft to its Birmingham factory, which it says will double production over the next five years.
The official opening included a visit from John Lewis managing director Andy Street and Mereway owners Bob and Richard Norris.
The additional 2,000sq ft of space has added 10% to the existing 17,500sq ft site. The £500,000 investment at the Amington Road premises will also create 10 new jobs.
The extension will provide a new packing and dispatch area, office and improved staff canteen. New spraying booths have also been added to facilitate the production of flat matt painted doors and bespoke kitchen furniture.
Amington Road is one of four production sites in the area where products are designed and manufactured. Mereway currently supplies a network of around 500 independent retailers throughout the UK and has been a supplier to John Lewis for 15 years.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to support Mereway – a manufacturer that is still designing and manufacturing in Britain,” said John Lewis’s Street. “It is fantastic to see that traditional skills such as carpentry, bench work and hand finishing are carried out in the new facility to create quality products for John Lewis customers.”
Joint Mereway managing director Richard Norris added: “This is an important milestone for our continued expansion in our 30th year. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, we are confident that we can maintain our ambitious plans for growth, developing new products and strengthening our presence in the kitchen market.
“Our long-standing relationship with John Lewis is testament to our partnership approach and our vision to be an outstanding supplier of choice and we are grateful that Andy could join us today to mark this important opening.”
- Mereway has also announced the death of in-house designer and senior product development manager Ian Robinson. Read the full story here.