An investment of nearly £1 million in business improvement techniques and marketing activities by furniture manufacturer Thomas McDonagh Ltd in Portadown has achieved an impressive 28 per cent increase in turnover and strengthened its overall competitiveness in markets outside Northern Ireland.

This was according to Lawson McDonald, Industrial Development Board Acting Deputy Chief Executive who announced IDB's support for the investment programme, which began in January 2000 and will cover expenditure of £423,200 by the company.

Thomas McDonagh, who currently employ 100 people in the manufacture of classic and contemporary dining, living and bedroom furniture at its Obins Street factory, have funded the remaining £500,000 in capital equipment from its own resources.

Mr McDonald said: "This progressive and locally-owned company is competing successfully through an uncompromising commitment to quality and efficiency in all aspects of its business.

"It is meeting the challenge of intense competition, often from lower cost suppliers in Britain and overseas, by ensuring existing and potential customers can count on a faster, more flexible and, perhaps above all, responsive services.

"By applying a range of business excellence techniques, including the Theory of Constraints (TOC) McDonagh is now able to offer customers tangible cost-savings by supplying the quality products they require on a just-in-time basis.”

Thomas McDonagh currently sells around 70 per cent of its furniture directly to leading furniture retailers and major independent stores in markets outside Northern Ireland, mainly Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. (MB)