A SNACK company has its focus firmly on growth, just five months after the company was set up.

Established in July by managing director Martin Rooney, Focus Nutrition, of Stockport, manufactures and packages a range of healthy cakes and snack products such as muffins, sports bars, cereal bars and fruit slices.

Martin says that an ever-increasing consumer preference for healthier and more convenient snacks is leading to greater demand for Focus products.

The company started with seven employees, but has already taken on two more and plans to continue recruiting in the New Year.

"It's a rapidly growing market and one which has considerable potential for us. We are looking to improve our efficiency and competitiveness and grow our customer base, and that means more investment, in terms of both people and facilities," he says.

"I spotted the potential two year's ago with a former company, but we were unable to fully exploit it. I decided the only way to do it properly was to set up a new company, which we did with Focus Nutrition," he continues.

Martin studied catering at Hollins College, now part of Manchester University, and he opened one of the first vegetarian restaurants in Manchester, Coconut Willy's in Stockport, over 20 years ago. He has put his catering and healthy eating expertise to good effect developing the Focus range of snacks.

Around 60 per cent of the Focus products are sold under its own label, including brands such as Applejacks, while the remaining forty per cent is supplied to a range of clients including Brake Brothers catering services, Jacksons supermarkets, vending company Bunzl and Interlink Foods. He says he expects the company to achieve a turnover of £500,000 in the first year, but aims to reach £2m in the next five years. Tweet