Princeton, New Jersey-based CRO Covance has announced the expansion of its nutritional chemistry and food safety services, opening a 10,000-square-foot laboratory this summer within its existing facility in Harrogate, England. This new lab will complement existing labs in Madison, Wis.; Battle Creek, Mich.; Greenfield, Ind.; and Singapore, and will help Covance continue to promote food safety and nutritional health on a global scale.

“Our new European site for nutritional chemistry and food safety services will enable us to provide the consistency of service and quality testing that our clients have come to expect from Covance, from a location that is closer and more convenient to their European operations,” said Brad Riemenapp, vice president and general manager, NCFS. “In Harrogate we will conduct cutting-edge research in food contaminants testing and the full spectrum of nutritional chemistry.”

In the first year of operation, 25 new positions are expected to be added in Harrogate, and over 100 positions are expected within five years. 

A $975,000 grant from the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Business Growth Program, made possible through the Government's Regional Growth Fund, will allow Covance to undertake new research in the area of contaminants testing at the Harrogate site. 

Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said, “Covance is not only a global leader in its field but also a major employer in the Leeds City Region, and this investment aims to boost the number of jobs and skills the company can offer local people.”