Framptons aims to build £30m turnover in 2011
Shepton Mallet firm Framptons employs nearly 200 staff but has submitted plans to Mendip District Council for a new 31,000 sq ft building (a rendering of which is pictured) alongside two existing buildings, which will create at least 30 new roles.
Framptons contract packs fruit juice, smoothies and milks for UK food and drink companies, and also makes egg products for the food service industry; it hopes that work on the building could start next year ahead of a possible opening in late 2012/early 2013.
Response to bottling demand
Chairman Clive Frampton told FoodManufacture.co.uk that the firm’s two current buildings would reach full capacity in 2011, and that demand from major contract packing customers required further bottling lines in the new building.
“An additional filling hall to house up to four filling/packing lines, with related warehousing and a new administrative centre will set us up for the foreseeable future,” said Frampton.
“We were fortunate in being able to take over two factory units adjacent to our main factory, the first in 2006 and the second in 2009. By June of this year both buildings will each house four filling lines and we will have no further space.”
Md Ian Harvey added: “Once we have approval to build we will be in a position to move forward as soon as a suitable business opportunity arises. We have considerable knowledge…in the processing and packing of liquid egg, fruit juices and smoothies, dairy and dairy-alternatives and see significant opportunities for further growth”.
Opportunities in eggs
Frampton is also chairman of the British Egg Products Association (BEPA), and he said that changes to EU rules on eggs (a ban on conventional or ‘battery’ laying cages will hit some countries that export cheap products within the union) will also benefit Framptons, which is enjoying “continuing growth”in liquid and cooked egg products made onsite.
“Changes in the rules governing the production of eggs within the EU come into force in January 2012 and our commitment to Lion Brand eggs for our egg products will see food manufacturers and caterers moving to us from imported egg products next year," he said.
“Our new building will help us deal with the increased volume and ensure that our future is secure in Shepton Mallet, where we have operated for more than 40 years.”
