Local farmers will have to produce more milk to make soft cheeses

Parmalat Dairies UK has a plant on the Shap Road industrial estate and makes soft cheeses, yoghurts, and dairy desserts.

The business is expanding in the north after closing a plant in Suffolk in June 2002.

Managing director Chris Ball said: "In Cumbria we are very close to milk producers, and closer to our customers, who tend to be northern-based supermarkets."

The expansion's is also good news for some local farmers - as the plant's need for milk will increase by 300,000 litres a week.

Parmalat took over a dairy products plant on the Shap Road estate in 2000.

Plant closed

Then it employed just over 100 people, now the workforce is around 160, and with the new intake the payroll will have almost doubled.

The company, part of an Italian-owned multinational, makes products like soft cheeses and yoghurts for supermarkets.

The expansion in Kendal comes after the closure of a plant in Mildenhall, in Suffolk.

Staff there were offered the chance to transfer to Cumbria, but only half a dozen or so have done so.