WELLINGTON firm Swallowfield is set to march into the United States in a bid to swell sales.

The ambitious plans are to be unveiled to shareholders at their annual meeting in Wellington next Thursday, November 5.

They will also hear that although the past year has been difficult for the toiletries and cosmetics firm, which employs 500 workers at its Station Road, Wellington site and at Bideford, it is hoped that the future will see further growth in both sales and profits as the firm works to improve its competitiveness.

Chief executive Ian Mackinnon will tell shareholders: "It is increasingly important to have a strong presence in the US as a large proportion of our market is influenced by marketing departments in the US."

During the year, Swallowfield employed an average of 630 people and paid out a total of almost £10 million in wages and salaries, most of that in Wellington.

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