Healthy food chain Chopped has announced plans to create 430 jobs in Ireland and the UK.

The company is doubling its footprint in this country with the opening of 20 new outlets and expanding into the UK for the first time, with 6 branches set to open there by the middle of the year.

320 full and part time jobs will come on stream in Ireland as the company plans to open new outlets in Wicklow, Cork, Waterford, and Dublin in 2017.

Chopped has also partnered with the giant food services group Aramark to open outlets at large footfall venues such as Dublin Airport and Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Speaking at the announcement, Brian Lee, co-founder and managing director of Chopped commented: "Last year we set a target of increasing our staff numbers by 100 and we exceeded that expectation by increasing our employees by 140 in 2016.

"When we received the keys for our first store five years ago, we knew it was the beginning of something great, but we still believe this is only the beginning for Chopped. Our staff are what makes Chopped the success it has become and we are looking forward to seeing our family grow as we expand across Ireland and beyond," he added.