The 12,077m2 plant is next door to the site’s existing warehouse and distribution depot and can process 75m bags of dried fruit, nuts, snacks and seeds annually for the firm’s 1,000 European stores.
New features include a bespoke chocolate coating machine, which the company plans to use to develop new products; recycling facilities and vitamin, mineral and supplement packaging equipment.
Sports nutrition
NBTY is also constructing a production line at the site enabling it to make own-label sports nutrition products in the UK, saving millions of pounds of import duties.
The company said the facility would support its growth and development plans for the Holland & Barrett brand. These include a roll-out through Julian Graves and GNC stores and expansion into new categories.
The factory opening coincided with the opening of NBTY’s new £6m headquarters and store support centre in Eliot Park, Nuneaton, which will be its base for European operations. Both developments have created 210 new jobs.
“This new investment in buildings, equipment and infrastructure underpins our commitment to providing customers with the highest quality products at excellent value,” Roger Craddock, NBTY Europe’s legal director told FoodManufacture.co.uk.