A salad processing factory is expanding with a jobs boost after securing a new deal to supply more products to Marks and Spencer.

Bakkavor Salads Tilmanstone has announced it is recruiting 90 new staff at its site near Dover after extending its agreement with the supermarket chain.

The recruitment drive during the spring follows the growth of Bakkavor and the launch of seven new side products for the M&S Dinner Tonight meal deal series.

The company, which works with growers around Kent, will also continue to supply its original set of products for M&S alongside the extended new range.

The site at Eythorne is gearing up for a peak in business this summer with weather forecasters already predicting above-average temperatures through the next five months with a repeat possibility of the extreme heat felt in 2022 and last summer.

The new jobs push also coincides with a multi-million-pound investment by Bakkavor in new facilities for its site to support the wellbeing and working environment for its 800 workers.

Roles include team leaders, factory operatives and hygiene operatives.

Perks will include discounted staff food shop, access to retail discounts, life assurance, pensions, wellbeing services, personal accident insurance and a voluntary dental insurance plan.

Ray Pigg, general manager at Bakkavor Tilmanstone said: “As a long-standing local business and also a major employer in the local community, we are proud to be creating further opportunities as we count down to the summer.

“We are looking for enthusiastic people of all experience levels to join our team and be part of our success story going forward.”