Kellanova, the maker of Kellogg’s cereal, has announced plans to invest £75m in its factory in Wrexham, North Wales.
It is already Kellanova’s largest Special K plant in the world and also produces brands such as All Bran, Bran Flakes and Fruit ’n Fibre.
The production of other cereal brands made in the UK – including Corn Flakes and Crunchy Nut – will transition the Wrexham plant as part of previously announced plans to end production at its Trafford Park factory in Manchester. The 86-year-old facility is set to close in late 2026 after the company decided it was too difficult to modernise.
As a result of the £75m investment, the Wrexham plant’s annual cereal production output will more than double, establishing it as the “largest cereal manufacturing site in Europe,” producing around 1.5 million boxes every day.
Additionally, two new advanced production lines will enhance the sustainability of cereal manufacturing, with artificial intelligence and machine learning technology used to lower energy consumption and reduce waste.
The company stated that the new lines will also offer increased flexibility and enable Kellanova to easily introduce new cereal formats and ingredients to meet evolving consumer tastes.
The investment will lead to the creation of at least 130 jobs in Wrexham, offering opportunities for staff at its Manchester plant where around 360 roles are at risk as a result of the planned closure.
Kellanova’s UK Managing Director, Chris Silcock, said: “This investment is a major commitment to cereal production in the UK. By bringing together the manufacturing of all our major breakfast cereals at one site in Wrexham, we can make significant leaps forward in the efficiency, quality and sustainability of our operation. It sets us up for future success and opens up new possibilities for our iconic brands to continue delighting our customers and consumers.”
The news comes just weeks after confectionery giant Mars agreed a $35bn deal to acquire Kellanova.
