A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of a smoked fish and poultry firm in Dartmouth which has announced it is expanding into premises on the outskirts of Plymouth.

Dartmouth Foods, which supplies retailers including Marks & Spencer, has signed up for space at Langage Science Park, near Plympton.

The company has exchanged contracts with Plymouth City Council and will take over all nine units available at the park. It plans to invest £3m into a purpose-built facility.

The move is expected to safeguard about 78 jobs, including 30 Plymouth-based staff, and the company plans to employ another 22 workers when the facility opens in July and a minimum of a further 65 by 2019.

Business owner Nick Obolensky said that at this stage he could not confirm what would happen to the company’s operation at Nelson Road, Townstal, but options were being explored.

He said: ‘Historically our business has been a fish smokery which has been here since 1978 when my father Andrew set up the business with some local partners.

‘In more recent years the business diversified into poultry cooking, as we had the right type of ovens in the factory to cook whole birds. Our particular product is aromatic shredded duck which we sell to the booming sandwich industry.

‘Recently our duck cooking business has expanded dramatically and we now need larger facilities to satisfy the growing demand and it will also enable us to move into chicken and turkey cooking.

‘Our job creation plan is strong and we will be retaining all our current jobs, albeit in a different area.

‘At this stage we cannot confirm exactly what will happen with the Dartmouth site but we are considering a number of options, including the heritage fish smokery. We have huge experience and lots of good local suppliers and customers.’