Pladis, the company behind brands such as McVitie’s, Jacob’s, and Flipz, has announced that it is investing £68m across its UK operations in a bid to “supercharge” its growth.
The London-based snacking giant has earmarked the bulk of the cash for its sites in the North West of England. The additional capital will be used to increase capacity, capability and productivity through the introduction of more automated lines and updated factory infrastructure.
The biscuit and cracker maker is also targeting a sustainability benefit. Investments in its UK operations are expected to cut 876 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of removing approximately 440 cars off the road.
In Stockport, the home of the McVitie’s Jaffa Cake, pladis is investing £21m to introduce a new chocolate moulding line featuring robotic technology.
Liverpool’s Aintree site, known for baking Jacob’s Cream Crackers, will see a £33m overhaul. This refurbishment includes the installation of new ovens and infrastructure, ensuring the facility is “fit for the future”.
In Carlisle, £2m will be used to invest in the group’s savoury assortments department, resulting in the bakery recruiting 48 new staff. The historic site, the world’s oldest biscuit factory, has been in operation since 1831 and currently employs around 800 people.
Meanwhile, pladis is allocating a pot of £12m to support infrastructure across its UK sites which – alongside Stockport, Liverpool and Carlisle – include facilities in Halifax, Harlesden in North London and Leicester.
“Today’s announcement is an important milestone in renovating our sites and unlocking capacity for our growth story,” said Mete Buyurgan,UK & Ireland managing director at pladis.
“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.”
The investment rollout is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
In its most recent financial accounts, for the year to December 2023, Pladis recorded revenues up 8% to £2.8bn.
