A Fakenham-based logistics company said key contracts with fashion retailer H&M and a growing barbecue business had helped it maintain growth in a challenging market.

Jack Richards & Sons is on course to create two new jobs and take on more part-time workers after securing a £160,000 deal to house the manufacturing and distribution of the Alfresco Concept's 'Green Egg Cooker' barbecue.

It comes after the firm, which employs 380 staff and has turnover of nearly £30m, recently landed a contract with Swedish-clothing giant H&M to house its building materials, while carrying out a shop refit at its clothing store in Chapelfield, Norwich.

Meanwhile, the company has also extended its contract with King's Lynn-based Big K Products, which supplies high-quality solid fuels.

Dominic Purslow, depot principal at the company, said the contracts had helped develop the business management side of the firm and demonstrated it could continue to grow despite a sluggish economy.

He said: 'Alfresco has set up a business that has taken off. But we are going to provide the back end of the job: the safety management of staff, the staff PAYE, the distribution – we are taking away that worry from them.'

David Erzine, director of Alfresco Concepts, said: 'We've been using Jack Richards & Son for transporting the cooker around the UK and it moving on to their site was an obvious solution to provide a cost-effective distribution service to our customers.'