COCA COLA Bottlers (Ulster) is to invest almost £10 million sterling at its plant in Lambeg, near Lisburn. The £9.6 million investment, supported by £400,000 from the IDB, is aimed at increasing sales in key markets, particularly in the Republic. Coca Coal Bottlers' managing director, Mr Michael Tracey, said that it would increase efficiency and reduce unit costs in an increasingly competitive market.

The investment, which is to create more than 20 new jobs, was announced by the North's Economy Minister, Baroness Denton, during a visit to the factory.

"The investment at Lambeg, has clearly been influenced by the company's reputation as one of the most efficient and quality conscious operations in the entire Coca Cola organisation," according to Baroness Denton.

Established in 1938, Coca Cola Bottlers (Ulster) is a franchise operation with over 350 employees. The four production (lines at Lambeg have an output of more than 18,000 litres an hour and produce a million gallons of Coke a month.