Local quality meat and direct mail food supplier Donald Russell, anticipate creating an additional hundred plus jobs in Kintore over the next five years if a new proposal to build a new headquarters gets the go ahead.

The company is preparing to invest a seven figure sum in the new building and has submitted a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council.

The company, which currently operates from Harlaw Road in Inverurie, has submitted plans to build a new headquarters on the former Braehead farm site in Kintore as part of an ongoing expansion strategy.

If accepted, offices, storage and distribution facilities will relocate to the nearby town.

Managing director of Donald Russell, Hans Baumann said "This is an exciting time for the company and we're keen to work with the communities in Inverurie and Kintore to enable them to share benefits of having an internationally successful company on their doorstep".

"We greatly value the contribution our staff make, and offer a range of incentives including cookery school, training programmes, flexible working hours and a pleasant working environment to reward them for their commitment".

"We have met with various local representatives including community council members, and local business representatives to discuss our plans with them and appreciate the feedback that's been received from these meetings".

The proposed building has been designed by local architect William Lippe and will use materials to ensure it is sympathetic to its surroundings.

The interior of the headquarters has been designed to provide a light, spacious and modern environment with the offices situated at the rear of the building.

Appropriate parking spaces will be allocated on the site to ensure no overspill onto surrounding roads.
The skilled butchery and production operation will remain at the Inverurie site which over the past two years has been substantially upgraded.

Financial director, Eleanor Mathieson said "Due to Donald Russell's growth over the last few years we have outgrown our current premises at Inverurie".

"After searching for a year within a five mile radius, we managed to obtain land at Kintore".

"The importance of finding a suitable site will enable the company to remain within the Inverurie area otherwise a total relocation may have been necessary".

The proposed site includes an ancient Neolithic site that has been incorporated into a large landscape area surrounding the building, and area that the company has pledged to safeguard.

The date for Aberdeenshire Council's planning committee to consider the application is still to be confirmed.

Inverurie Advertiser 9th November 2007