Crewe-based Wrights Food Group’s £6m investment in a new confectionery line has increased productivity by 32% in the last 12 months. 

The facility in Weston Road operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week, making 144 product lines for major customers across foodservice, bakery and retailing.

Up to 46.8 million doughnuts and 22 million cookies a year are being manufactured at the factory.

It features fully automated equipment including VMI mixers, depositor lines, proofers, automated inline fryers, ultrasonic robotic cutting equipment and rack ovens, though a number of products such as eclairs and cakes are still hand-crafted for a ‘competitive advantage’.

A new dry store for ingredients and expansive freezer facilities has also been installed at the 40,000sq ft facility.

Wrights’ customers include coffee shops, independent bakery shops and quick-service restaurants, which it supplies with frozen, part-baked and finished products through a network of national wholesalers.

Peter Wright, chairman and chief executive, said: “We are already seeing the benefits of our investment in the confectionery plant with improved efficiencies, less waste, better consistency and the flexibility to produce a much wider range of quality products for our growing customer base.

“The factory will bring numerous advantages as the business develops, giving us the flexibility to diversify in the future and work with customers to manufacture innovative products to their bespoke requirements and specification.”