A KEIGHLEY company is expanding with the acquisition of another firm.

Food packaging specialist PFF Group, whose headquarters are in Royd Ings Avenue, has bought Sirap UK.

The Sedgefield firm, which has a £13 million turnover, was part of the Italian Sirap Group. It is a leading producer and supplier of thermoformed rigid plastic food packaging.

The acquisition is another step in the continued growth of PFF Group, whose customers include supermarkets, multi-national food manufacturers and fresh produce companies.

The group also recently launched a health division and has been producing millions of disposable polythene aprons for use by frontline NHS and social care workers.

Kenton Robbins, PFF Group managing director, said: "We’re delighted with the acquisition of Sirap UK, which allows us to combine two long-standing and highly-regarded businesses in the packaging sector.

"This investment forms a key part of the group’s continued growth strategy, increasing our brand share of the UK’s thermoforming sector – and it is a fantastic opportunity for us to manufacture a wider variety of products for a more diverse range of customers.

"We look forward to realising the significant synergies that Sirap UK and PFF Group have and the opportunities for growth and scale that this presents for the group."

PFF Group, which also has a site at Washington, Tyne and Wear, employs more than 250 people.