Drinks manufacturer Britvic has announced it is investing more than £100 million in its facility in Rugby, Warwickshire, as part of a broader, three-year investment in its UK manufacturing capabilities.
As part fo the Rugby investment, Britvic has installed three new PET bottling lines, an on-site warehouse and a new aseptic line to manufacture preservative-free beverages. It has also unveiled three new can production lines capable of producing up to 6,000 cans per minute.
The investments have helped Britvic improve its logistics planning capabilities as well as reduce road miles and its carbon footprint.
Earlier this year, the company announced the hiring of 80 new employees at the facilities, including technical operators, engineers and team leaders.
In July, Britvic said that its third quarter revenue was up 3.4%, boosted by sales of non-carbonated and sugar-free drinks.
Investment Strategy
The company's investment plan was first announced in 2015, and has been developed to 'step-change the speed and flexibility of its production lines whilst delivering environmental benefits through greater efficiencies', the company said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Britvic welcomed Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby and Bulkington, to the site for a tour of the new-look facility.
Jeremy Howard, Director of Production at Britvic, commented on the new development, "It is a proud moment for the team here and for all our partners who have supported us in our ambition to create a world-class manufacturing site.
“Sustainability remains at the heart of our business and this project. Through our GB investment programme, we are investing for the future and remain committed to continuing to make a positive difference to our communities and to the world around us – helping to make it healthier, happier, and more sustainable.”
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
