HUNDREDS of thousands pounds is set to be invested into an Eden business, helping to expand its product range and bringing new jobs.

Cows and Co Group, which operates Appleby Creamery, has acquired Eden Valley Business Park, which will be the home to a new £350,000 state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant.

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One of the buildings on the site will be transformed, allowing for demand to be met and to accommodate new product development to include other dairy products including butter, yoghurt and clotted cream.

As part of the acquisition of the site, the opportunity arose for the group to take over the lease of a retail premises in Appleby which has been operating as Stephenson’s Grocers since 1890.

The group will be using their business experience to enhance the wholesale and retail product range and service while maintaining the traditional values and reputation built up over 100 years of trading in the town.

Maurice Walton, of Appleby Creamery and a director of Cows & Co, has lived in Appleby all his life and said: “My family have been shopping at Stephenson’s for 50 years and it’s an exciting prospect to join forces with Stephenson’s.

"We believe this will be beneficial for both businesses and good for customers in the town.”

Kevin Hindmarch, who has worked for Stephenson’s for over 40 years will continue to manage the Appleby shop.

The Cows and Co Group acquired Appleby Creamery in 2015 and launched the Cows and Co range of cheeses alongside the already successful products.

The group also operates an energy division and is installing a £400,000 biomass energy plant to produce the energy required to run the site.

Earlier this year the group launched The Lakes Hamper Co, bringing together a host of some of the counties best food and drink producers.

During a visit by Prince Charles to the creamery, His Royal Highness was presented with a hamper and was said to be very impressed with the collection of great products available within the county.