The group's HSL division is to invest �2.5m in extending its telephone management business.

Most of the jobs will be in an area badly hit by unemployment.

Park Food's chairman is the Everton football club chairman Peter Johnson. He described a recent shake-up at HSL as "a difficult year" for the business.

Mr Johnson added: "However, the new management team is now very focused on what it has to do and is strongly committed to regenerating the business.

"Our confidence in the ability of HSL to achieve sustained success is reaffirmed by the decision to invest �2.5m in a major expansion of the company's call centre activities with new facilities in Birkenhead."

The jobs announcement came at the same time as the group's annual results for the year until March 31.