Planning permission granted to £14M food factory

Councillors from Denbighshire County Council voted unanimously to grant permission to Wholebake to build the factory near the Tyn Y Llidiart Industrial Estate in Corwen, Denbighshire.

The new 14,351m² ​food manufacturing facility will have 10,694m² ​of floor space dedicated to production and warehousing.

Wholebake’s plans also included a water treatment plant, car parking spaces and a staff wellbeing building – including a health and fitness centre.

Continue production in tandem​

The manufacturer already runs a 2,400m²​ factory in Corwen, which will continue production in tandem with the new facility. Wholebake also runs a smaller 1,000m²​ plant at Wrexham and the company has a separate head office.

Wholebake makes branded and own-­label bakery products and in 2003 its turnover was £4M.

A capital injection in 2011 has led to a £26M turnover with its aim to increase this to £40M by 2019. The company planned to hire 122 more staff by 2021.

In its original planning documents, Wholebake said: “The total project contract value for this project is in the region of £14M​ and this will help to secure existing construction jobs based locally and create new ones.​

‘Tough economic times’​

“In what are still tough economic times, skilled jobs in the locality that will help maintain employment and provide and contribute towards the ongoing economic investment in the locality is a significant bonus.”​

Wholebake owner 9Nine Brand Foods told Foodmnaufacture.co.uk that it was not ready to comment on the councils decision to grant planning permission.

Meanwhile, up to 20 new jobs are to be created​ at a food packaging recycling plant in North Yorkshire, following a £7M investment from waste management firm Biffa.

If you’re looking to take the next step in your food and drink career, check out the latest vacancies available at FoodManJobs.​