MASSIVE investment was announced today by Elvington turf grower Rolawn which plans to open three new sales and distribution depots next month, one of them in York.

The company, which has more than 3,000 acres in production in and around the Vale of York, will open depots in York and at Warrington on March 1 with a Leeds depot to follow shortly afterwards. Their operation will mean at least six new Rolawn jobs.

Already a new hard standing area for lorry turnarounds has been laid at Rolawn's Elvington headquarters where the York depot will be based.

It will bring to 16 the number of depots operated by Rolawn which claims to be the UK's largest turf grower and a major national supplier of topsoil and bark mulch. More depot locations are being evaluated.

Exact extent of the investment spree, which includes the arrival of a new £170,000 Trebro turf harvesting machine, is being kept under wraps as "commercially sensitive."

But Terry Ryan, Rolawn's sales and marketing director said: "It's the biggest investment in depots that we have had in six years. Collectively they represent a step change in the approach the business is taking to the cultivated turf and quality topsoil market in the North of England."

He said that sales volumes of his company's Medallion turf increased by 400,000 sq metres and the new depots would help to double this rate of growth in the next financial year.

The Trebro turf harvesting machine is the latest of four which the company has bought at the rate of one per year, although it plans to sell one of them.

The new equipment will boost Rolawn's harvesting capability by more than 15 loads per day.

Mr Ryan said: "With 60 to 70 loads daily being despatched at peak times, investing in new purpose-built equipment is seen as fundamental to our objective of increasing overall share of the UK turf market. Further investment is planned in the years ahead."

Updated: 10:55 Monday, February 14, 2005