Booming catering opportunities in Bradford are expected to boost a West Yorkshire industrial recruitment firm which has acquired a specialist food sector jobs specialist.

Javelin Recruitment has bought the catering recruitment business North & South for an undisclosed sum in a move that will increase its turnover to £3.5 million and enable it to take advantage of “huge demand” for staff in the local leisure, hotels and catering sector.

The company, which supplies warehouse, production, cleaning and data administration staff, to manufacturers and distributors across Bradford, expects the acquisition to increase jobs assignments to more than 400 a week.

Javelin said the combination of the two Leeds-based firms would enable it to place more than 3,000 people in new jobs in Yorkshire this year.

Managing director John Patrick, who established Javelin seven years ago, said: “Bradford attracts more than eight million visitors every year – the city’s Mela festival alone brings some 100,000 people together – and the associated opportunities for the catering and service industries are tremendous.

“We’re also catering for an increasing number of weddings in the city, particularly within the Asian community.

“We’re seeing a marked increase in requests from businesses who are looking at growth again after the downturn. They want access to high-calibre, experienced employees and a specialist local consultancy they can rely on.

“We have more than 50 major clients on our books across a wide variety of industrial and commercial sectors, many of which are long-term contract agreements. We have a client retention record I’m really proud of and we’re looking forward to growing our catering and food service client portfolio in the same way.

“Our expansion into catering and food service is a logical next step for Javelin and the acquisition of North & South gives us a direct route into a highly specialised sector.”

Javelin Recruitment will be branded Javelin Supply Chain for its industrial recruitment consultancy and Javelin North and South for its catering, events and hospitality staffing service.