Much of the investment will be used to equip and fit out a new packing hall to improve product throughput, including new conveyors, automated handling systems and an ergonomic workspace design.
New roles created at the site included vacancies in production, hygiene and quality control. Avara is also on the lockout for drivers and forklift drivers on both fixed term and permanent contracts.
Site manager Claire Tarvit said this was the largest single investment in the Brackley site. Previous investments included £1m into new technology to fight campylobacter and £5m into a new dispatch hub in 2014.
Automation creates opportunity
“We firmly believe steady investment in our people, facilities and technology is the best way to sustain growth and offer our people greater career opportunities – the automation of certain processes allows greater opportunities for more skilled roles in maintaining and monitoring equipment performance,” Tarvit added.
“COVID-19 has changed the way we work, but we’re proud to continue feeding the nation during these challenging times. We’re really looking forward to welcoming new people to the company, as these exciting improvements are completed at our Brackley plant.”
Chief executive Andy Dawkins described the continued investment at Brackley was proof of the company’s long-term commitment to the site.
£100m investment into British production
“Where others in the market are delaying the implementation of plans for growth due to uncertainty around Brexit, we’re forging ahead with a comprehensive capital investment programme in which we plan to spend over £100m on improving our British operations over the next three years,” he continued.
Meanwhile, last month, plant-based manufacturer Meatless Farm has raised $31m (£24m) to support plans to grow in the UK, Europe, US and Asia.
The funding followed a previous round of $17m raised by the company. The latest tranche of cash has come from a mixture of existing and new private and family office investors, all of whom have a commitment to sustainable investing.
