THE rising popularity of pizza has given an oven supplier appetite for a major expansion.

White’s Foodservice Equipment has tripled the size of its premises in Redditch, moving from North Moons Moat to South Moons Moat, where it has taken more than 5,400 sq ft at 8 Padgets Lane.

Tim White, owner and managing director of the company, which supplies to Domino’s Pizza, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, pubs, takeaways and other retail outlets, said £50,000-plus has been invested in tailoring the building to its requirements. A showroom has been created while offices have been accommodated on a new mezzanine floor.

He added: "The showroom is a bit like a pizza school with working ovens. We see it as a one-stop-shop for pizza. Clients can come along with their ingredients and try the ovens out.”

Mr White, who has been nearly 30 years in the sector, launched the business in 2010. It has been growing at roughly 50 per cent a year and now has a turnover of £1.6 million. Ovens are imported from the United States and Italy. A few are exported on to Russia, Cyprus and Bulgaria. Previously the firm had some small satellite operations including Northampton and Meriden, but all is now in the one place. “We needed to take the next step,” said Mr White. “It was vital we did so.”

The move was achieved through property agents John Truslove and director Ben Truslove said: "The public are still in love with pizza and White’s Foodservice Equipment is there for everyone who sells pizza commercially. It is great to see a local business earning a decent crust and expanding its base.”