New business opportunities since the vote to leave the EU have prompted Pasta Foods to plan to grow its workforce.

The company, which has been operating in Great Yarmouth for 50 years, plans to take on seven new apprentices this year into its two sites in Great Yarmouth, five immediately and two engineering apprentices later in the year, adding to the current workforce of 141 staff.

Managing director Gordon Chetwood said business growth following the Brexit vote has set the company on course for a busy 2017.

'Most of our competitors are European businesses supplying into the UK, so the devaluation of the Pound makes us more competitive to UK customers, although we have faced rising costs as we buy raw materials from Europe. We export snacks across the world to over 40 countries and we have seen very good sales growth in spite of raw material cost inflation. It's with this in mind we're hoping to grow our workforce in Great Yarmouth.'

Pasta Foods has two factories in Norfolk: one in Yarmouth producing some pasta and snack pellets from potato, wheat, maize and pulses and another in Costessey, manufacturing dried pasta for a range of food sectors from canned goods, salads, instant, frozen and ready meals.

The manufacturing needs of the two sides of the business are very different and our strategy is to have 2 separate dedicated facilities.

Mr Chetwood also hopes the development of an additional piece of land next to its Yarmouth factory will allow for the creation of even more jobs in the town.

'We are seeking permission for the development of a Travelodge and a number of food outlets on land which we own adjacent to our Yarmouth production facility. This would create up to 100 new jobs, which would be more good news for the town. It would also enable funds to accelerate the much-needed investment into Yarmouth. Our longer term vision is to make all our pasta from our Norwich facility and increase our snack production in Yarmouth.'