CCE invests £2.2M in East Kilbride site
The investment is in a new robotic palletiser that automatically stacks cases and will run at much higher line speeds of 14,000 bottles per minute.
This number could be increased to 18,000 to 20,000 bottles per minute, which the firm hoped could improve operating and energy efficiency at the site on Milton Road.
Jim Duddy, operations director at CCE East Kilbride, said the investment was a sign of the firm’s dedication to local manufacturing in Scotland.
“We are investing for the long-term through the latest technology, and we are extremely excited to start production of Coca-Cola Life,” he added. “This is testament to the credentials and expertise we have on site, and further reinforces CCE’s ‘Made in GB’ commitments, with 97% of all of our products sold here produced across Great Britain.”
Tackle obesity
CCE launched its first ever stevia-sweetened drink Coca-Cola Life yesterday (July 11) in a bid to grow the sparkling soft drink market and tackle obesity.
Coca-Cola Life has a third less sugar and a third fewer calories than the brand’s full sugar variety and will be marketed as a low calorie alternative to Diet Coke and Coke Zero when it is released in the autumn.
Sweetened with a blend of sugar and naturally-sourced stevia leaf extract, a 330ml can of Coca-Cola Life contains 89 calories and features green branding that will join Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola Zero on shelves from September. Coca-Cola Life is the first new Coca-Cola to be launched in Great Britain since the launch of Coca-Cola Zero in 2006.
The new brand will also be made at other CCE factories in the UK.
Manufacturing in East Kilbride
Last month, CCE celebrated the 50th anniversary of manufacturing in East Kilbride with the launch of a new tartan bottle for Homecoming Year for Scotland.
John Brock, chairman and ceo of CCE, said: “At Coca-Cola Enterprises, we are passionate about making positive contributions to the communities in which we operate.
“East Kilbride is a great example of the legacy that our local sites can provide our communities while remaining focused on delivering manufacturing excellence throughout our operations in Great Britain and across western Europe.”
Meanwhile, The Food Manufacture Group will host an online seminar – Obesity and health: the big fat, sugar and salt debate – on Thursday July 3 to provide an independent interpretation of scientific evidence on the subject.
Book your free place at our one-hour independent webinar here.
