Te Puke company Flare Fires is to begin manufacturing fires in Cromwell.

Flare Fires has been operating in Te Puke for more than nine years with its solid masonry fire factory hidden in behind the Station Road industrial area.

The company is no secret, however, with its products being sought after by home owners from all over the country.

In response to this demand, Flare Fires is to begin a second factory, in Cromwell Otago.

'We are currently shipping fires to our Cromwell warehouse in container lots. This has been great for a period of time however increasing customer demand is making it difficult to keep up supply from Te Puke,” explains Flare Fires CEO Mike Edwards.

'Manufacturing in Otago will increase our capacity as well as reduce our logistics costs, enabling us to respond more cost effectively to South Island customers.”

Operating originally in Wellington by founder Torrey Hilton, the business moved to Te Puke in 2009 with the Hilton family.

Under the leadership of Torrey's son-in-law Nathan Badger the business has grown from strength to strength, bringing in Mike Edwards last year to help the business manage its growth.

Last year sales increased by 80 per cent, with Flare Fires doubling its production capacity to keep up with demand.

Flare Fires will be opening its Cromwell factory in the second half of 2018.