The production facility is the first for the MEG Group in the country and will supply bottled mineral water and soft drinks to Lidl stores across the UK and Ireland.
MEG’s 50,167m2 plant at Dove Valley Park in Foston will mainly consist of two distinct building sections. These are a single storey element comprising the bottling production line and a taller section, encompassing storage and distribution facilities with an automated stacking system.
Reducing costs and carbon
In documents submitted during the planning applications, MEG said the new facilities would significantly shorten transport routes, helping to further improve the company’s carbon footprint and reduce costs.
“The proposal will bring over 150 jobs to the area and will lead to further benefits within the supply chain,” MEG added.
Frank McCardle, chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “We have worked closely with the MEG team since their original enquiry, in bringing this new state-of-the-art production facility to South Derbyshire, on Dove Valley Park.
“This major inward investment has been secured through a dedicated approach, supported by the many benefits of locating in our district. Job creation is always welcome along with energy efficient technology that this plant will incorporate.”
Prep work
Planning application was submitted to, and approved by, South Derbyshire District Council in December 2019, with preparatory works continuing throughout 2020. Work on the plant is scheduled to begin in the summer of this year.
Meanwhile, Meadow Foods has commissioned the £4m plant-based dairy alternatives factory it announced last year, which will make products under The Collective's Plant brand and was fitted using a groundbreaking technique.
Features of the new factory include a dry and wet automatic multi-recipe blend, process and preparation unit, pasteurisation plant, storage and fermentation unit and packing capability.
