The investment has doubled Alpro’s production capacity at the site near Kettering from 75M litres a year to 150M in a bid to meet growing demand for its almond, hazelnut, soya, oat and coconut drinks.
Sur Garfit, commercial manager at Alpro, told FoodManufacture.co.uk there was a growing demand for plant-based products among health-conscious consumers.
Rising sales
“Alpro’s sales are rising at more than 25% a years in the UK,” she said. “Sales of our almond and coconut drinks have doubled in the last year and along with our soya-based drinks and alternatives to yogurt, it is clear that demand is continuing to grow.”
Garfit confirmed to this site that although Alpro’s target audience was still women, many men were consuming its products in the home when they had been bought by their partners.
Investment and innovation were “vitally” important for Alpro to maintain its growth, she claimed.
The firm has grown from a business solely producing soya-based products to one manufacturing almond, hazelnut, oat and coconut drinks, yogurts and cream from sites in Belgium, France and the UK.
Housed in the brand new building are fresh production equipment and two filling lines.
Alpro’s UK workforce of 180 has already been boosted by 35 new recruits, with a further 15 set to join the business later this year.
Success story
Minister of state for trade and investment Lord Livingston, who opened the site, said Alpro was a success story.
“This major commitment to the Burton Latimer site sends a very clear and positive message about innovation and excellence in the UK food and drink industry and the benefits of using the support available from UK Trade & Investment.”
Kettering MP Philip Hollobone said: “It is tremendous for the local economy that this massive new investment is going in, employing new people and getting the message out that – not only is the UK open for business- but Burton Latimer is as well.”
Meanwhile, look out for our exclusive video with Alpro’s plant director Metin Fevzi- Hunt on what the biggest challenges were during the 10-month construction of the site.