Speaking at the opening of the factory this week (September 6), Carwyn Jones commented on the importance of the company to Lowyrs, mid Wales.
“I’m pleased to return to the Burger Manufacturing Company to officially open this new larger production facility which has been supported by more than £1.4M of Welsh government and EU investment,” said Jones.
‘Contributing to the local economy’
“The company plays an important role in contributing to the local economy in Powys and is supplying not only UK customers, but also exporting into Europe. This is an excellent example of how businesses in rural Wales are a key component of Wales’ economic drive and vitally important to our food and farming sectors.”
Jones opened The Burger Manufacturing Company’s current site in Builth Wells, Powys, in 2000, when he was secretary of agriculture and rural development.
The new 3,670m2 factory currently employs 43 people, with plans to hire another 25 workers over the next three years.
Commenting at the factory opening, the Burger Manufacturing Company’s sales and marketing manager Mark Cornall said: “We’ve been growing year-on-year and we knew that to meet future growth we’d have to develop a new larger facility.
‘Increase production’
“We can now increase production for existing and new customers while developing new and exciting products for a range of markets.”
The company exports its products to across the world – primarily to Spain and France – and sells to Gibraltar. Production at the new facility began soon after opening.
Meanwhile, last month, biscuit manufacturer Phoenix Brands invested £1.5M in a new 2,787m2 factory in Wolverhampton, which will create an additional 10 jobs.