Global snacking manufacturer Pladis has pumped £68m into a variety of upgrades at its UK sites.
The London-headquartered business has earmarked the bulk of its investments for its factories in the northwest – including in Liverpool, Stockport, and Carlisle – with the intention of supercharging growth of some of its best-known brands, like McVitie’s and Jacob’s.
Pladis revealed that the additional capital will be used to introduce more automated lines and update factory infrastructure, helping to increase capacity, capability, and productivity. It is also targeting sustainability, with investments expected to cut 876 tonnes of carbon emissions per year – equivalent to the removal of 440 cars off the road.
The Aintree bakery in Liverpool, home to production of the Jacob’s range such as Cream Crackers and Twiglets, is to benefit from a £33m overhaul including installation of new ovens and infrastructure. The comprehensive refurbishment is aimed at ensuring the facility is fit for the future, noted Pladis, which had announced plans in late 2023 to slash its workforce at the site by around half.
At its Stockport factory, where McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes are made, the company is to spend £21m installing a new chocolate moulding line featuring state-of-the-art robotic technology.
In Carlisle, Pladis is following up on its £2m warehouse with another £2m invested in the savoury assortments department at its historic site, the world’s oldest biscuit factory in operation since 1831. Currently employing 800 staff, the latest investment will result in the recruiting, onboarding, and training of 48 new colleagues.
An additional £12m has been allocated to support enhancements to infrastructure across its facilities, which also include in Halifax, Leicester, and Harlesden in north London. The current investment rollout is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
“Today’s announcement is an important milestone in renovating our sites and unlocking capacity for our growth story,” commented Pladis UK & Ireland managing director Mete Buyurgan, who took over the role earlier this year.
“We have a fantastic suite of much-loved brands, baked by dedicated colleagues, and we have a responsibility to continue to nurture these brands for customers and consumers across the world. The news of these investments we are sharing today will enable us to achieve this,” he added.
Established in 2016, Pladis employs 16,000 people across 27 bakeries and factories in 11 countries, with its brands sold in more than 110 nations. Most recent full-year results (to 31 December 2023) for the UK arm of its business showed sales growth of 14.9%, reaching £984.4m, with its share of the overall UK biscuit market improving slightly to 22.2%.
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