Warburtons has submitted for planning permission to build a £20m new plant at its Burnley bakery.
According to the company, the proposed new plant will produce Warburtons’ range of Sandwich Alternatives, as well as its Wraps and Thins.
Situated adjacent to the existing bakery on Billington Road, it is predicted the new development could create 60 new jobs. Subject to planning permission, it is hoped that the plant will produce an average of 5,500 products per hour.
If the plan submitted to Burnley Borough Council is successful, the build programme is expected to commence next month (February). Burnley was chosen as the next location, Warburtons said, due to its supply chain links and suitability for build.
Neil Campbell, managing director at Warburtons, said: “As a family business, we are able to take decisions for the long term and this planned investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the future growth of the business.
“We recognise that consumer needs and tastes are changing and we must ensure we are fit to meet their needs, now and into the future.”
Campbell added that, over the past decade, the business has invested more than £400m in its infrastructure. “We have 26 sites across the UK meaning we can get our products from the bakery to the shelf in as little time as possible – meaning fresher bread for our consumers,” he said.
In a statement, Warburtons said the Total Sandwich Alternatives range had grown by 87% year-on-year and now accounted for 5.3% of Warburtons’ Total Wrapped Bakery value sales.
The company’s existing Wraps and Thins plants in Bristol and Bolton produce over £1m-worth of these products each week.
The Burnley site currently employs 250 people.
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