Cameron's visit yesterday (November 24) marked the opening of the newly developed site in Tutbury, which is set to treble in capacity following the completion of the development in 2013.
Employee numbers will rise from 500 to 800 upon completion, with the site also welcoming the first intake of graduates, interns, and apprentices to the Nestlé Academy over the next two years.
‘Excellent news’
Cameron described Nestlé's investment as “excellent news”, and also stressed the importance of UK manufacturing to the wider economy.
“Manufacturing is crucial to the new economy we are building - an economy where we're making and selling the products the world wants to buy,” he said. “This investment shows the confidence that there is in the UK; it is clear we have got a great manufacturing future.”
The firm will introduce 12 new high-speed production lines at the factory that to make coffee pods which will be sold in the UK and 38 other countries.
The site currently manufactures the best-selling Nescafé coffee range, and is one of only two factories to produce the premium brand Nescafé Dolce Gusto.
A spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Need for Nestlé products has been growing considerably, Tutbury will now be able to meet the demand.
“It is great news that Nestlé UK was chosen for the developments, and the new jobs created will increase the workforce and continue to further the company's goals.”
Paul Grimwood, chairman and CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland added: “Recruiting the best people for our business is the key to our continued success. Through the Nestlé Academy, we will double our number of apprentices, graduates and internships, supporting the economy through the training of skilled workers.”
£35M bottling plant
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the firm announced plans to build a new £35M water bottling plant in Buxton, Derbyshire.
Nestlé said the developments will enable the factory to “significantly reduce” its total energy output and cut the amount of water used in manufacturing.
The firm aims to achieve an 'excellent' rating within the British Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method certification scheme. It hopes to win the rating by minimising the environmental impact of the building, its running costs and transport use.
The environmentally sustainable building will also produce the world's lightest weighing water bottles, using 25% less polyethylene terephthalate than the current design.
A lightweight version will be rolled out across the entire still range of Buxton Natural Mineral Water and Nestlé Pure Life brands.
Nestlé's new bottling plant is scheduled to open in May 2012.