Newry fit-out firm MJM Marine doubles its turnover

The company recently won a contract to work on two Stena ferries

Newry-based fit-out company MJM Marine has more than doubled its turnover in the last year.

The details are contained in the firm's annual accounts for 2010, showing turnover has grown from £12m in 2009 to £25m last year.

Pre-tax profits slipped back slightly from £1.1m to £1m.

MJM specialises in fitting-out cruise ships and recently won a contract to work on two Stena ferries which will sail the Belfast-Cairnryan route.

The directors said they were satisfied with the annual performance which was "achieved despite difficult trading and economic conditions".

They added that the company has a healthy order book for the next two years and that the level of repeat business remains high.

The firm's London-based subsidiary, which targets high-end hotels and restaurants, delivered around £11m of orders during 2010, including the fit-out of a Heston Blumenthal restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park.

The company says the MJM brand is now "firmly established" in London and is in a good position to win more business in coming years.

The company was established by Brian McConville in Rathfriland in 1983. It is now based at Carnbane in Newry where it is continuing to add workshop and office space.

The firm directly employs around 120 people paying salaries of around £5m.