Supermarket Morrisons will create 400 jobs at its new manufacturing site in Somerset by 2014, the company announced yesterday.

The giant already employs 750 people at its massive South West & Wales distribution centre which opened in Bridgwater last year.

But the new manufacturing site which is due to open next-door in April, will open as a fruit and vegetable store and will now extend to include a packhouse which could open by 2014, depending on Morrisons’ growth.

The company said yesterday it will look to recruit locally where possible for positions at the 123,000 square foot building.

Packing fruit and vegetables and distributing them to stores from the same base will cut the company’s road miles by two million each year.

Pre-employment training is being carried out for local people to develop the skills in partnership with Bridgwater College, Somerset Skills and Learning, Job Centre Plus and Sedgemoor Council.

Martyn Fletcher, Group Manufacturing Director, said: “Having our manufacturing site so close to our regional distribution centre for the area will reduce food miles and improve our strong environmental credentials.”

“We are delighted to be creating these jobs in Bridgwater and hope to be able to fill a large proportion of them with suitable local candidates.”

Councillor Anne Fraser, portfolio holder for economic strategy at Sedgemoor District Council, said: “We welcome Morrisons’ continued investment in our district and the new jobs this facility will bring.We are particularly encouraged by the efforts the company is making.”