The factory in Norfolk, which currently employs nearly 300 people, will also create 28 new full-time jobs as part of the investment.
The new production line, to be completed early in 2017, will help meet the demand for Uncle Ben’s Ready-to-Heat rice across the UK market, said the manufacturer.
The announcement was made during the official opening of its new £6M office facilities on Friday (July 8, 2016) by Liz Truss, environment secretary and Conservative Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk.
Mars Food UK said the investment reconfirmed the manufacturer’s commitment to the local community in King’s Lynn, with which the business had worked for 53 years.
£6M investment in office facilities
The latest spending followed a £6M investment in the new state-of-the-art office facilities last year.
In January 2015, Mars revealed it would expand the Kings Lynn facility in a multi-million pound investment plan, following a £1.1bn trade partnership between the UK and US.
The government minister said: “Around the world, Britain is rightly seen as a great place to invest with our £100bn food and drink industry renowned for high quality produce and forward looking innovation.
‘£100bn food and drink industry’
“This significant investment by Mars is a real vote of confidence in Britain as a place to do business, creating jobs locally and helping drive economic growth for the nation.”
The new office facilities, opened by Truss, included a ‘living green roof’, gymnasium and canteen, as well as meeting rooms aimed at helping boost employees’ wellbeing and engagement at work.
The space was designed to attain the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification.
Michael Ryan, regional president, Mars Food, Western Europe & Russia said: “We have been manufacturing from this site for over 50 years and continue our commitment to investing and growing the site which manufactures some of the UK’s favourite family brands – Uncle Ben’s and Dolmio.”
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Mars’s year so far – at a glance
- May 2016: Agrees green energy deal with Eneco UK to provide 100% of electricity at UK sites
- April 2016: Advised consumers to limit the consumption of certain products
- Feb 2016: Mars recalled millions of chocolate bars in UK as part of recall in 55 countries on fears of plastic contamination