The factory in Fakenham, North Norfolk, makes Linda McCartney’s meat-free range, crumbles and hot desserts.
A spokesman for Hain Daniels told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “The jobs will be mainly in the production area on the shopfloor. The recruitment process will start in the autumn and the jobs will come on stream in the New Year.”
The Hain Daniels product line includes the Linda McCartney meat-free range, New Covent Garden Soup, Johnson’s Juices and the Farmhouse Fare range of traditional desserts.
Planning permission for the expansion has been submitted to North Norfolk District Council.
The investment will include extensions to existing buildings and the upgrading of equipment.
Good news for Norfolk
North Norfolk District Council welcomed the news as a boost to the local economy.
The area recently suffered a blow with the closure of the Cromer Crab factory, which was owned by Young’s Seafood. After a review of its manufacturing operations, Young’s moved production to its site in Grimsby, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.
On hearing the news of the Linda McCartney factory expansion, Tom Fitzpatrick, councillor for Walsingham Ward, North Norfolk District Council, told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “This is very good news for Fakenham and the surrounding area. The site has gone from strength to strength and this has consolidated growth in the area.”
Force in frozen food
The expansion is part of the US food group’s strategy to “become a major force in the UK fresh and frozen foods market”.
US-based Hain Celestial acquired the UK’s Daniels Group on October 25 2011 in a £144M deal.
In a company statement subsequent to the acquisition, Hain Celestial’s president and chief executive officer, Irwin D Simon said: “The addition of these category-leading brands and products, along with our Linda McCartney and Daily Bread brands, will create a powerhouse in the fresh and frozen natural sector in the United Kingdom.”
Simon also revealed plans to introduce some of the firm’s US product lines to the UK.
“The acquisition will also provide us with scale in our international operations to allow us to introduce some of our existing global brands, including Rice Dream, Celestial Seasonings, Earth’s Best, Terra Chips and Sensible Portions, in a more meaningful way in the marketplace,” he said.