The investment will be rolled out throughout 2021 to help deliver additional capacity, greater efficiencies and reduced costs.
Haribo UK managing director Jon Hughes said: “As we continue to face tough challenges following the ongoing impact of COVID-19, we are showing our resilience and commitment to world-class production in an increasingly competitive market.
Reducing sugar content
“Investing £22m into our already world-class manufacturing facility will give us greater opportunity to produce the variety of sweets that we know bring childlike happiness to our customers. We focus on making great tasting treats that are just sweet enough and will continue to look for ways to reduce sugar content where we can.”
The investment followed a strengthened initiative from Haribo to reformulate its products to contain less sugar. IN 2018, the confectionery firm launched its first reduced sugar treat, Fruitilicious and has since gone on to reformulate its Jelly Babies to contain 25% less sugar than comparable products.
“We’ll continue to lead the way in using only as much sugar as we need to deliver the taste and texture that our customers love,” Hughes added.
The past month has seen a number of food and drink firms invest into their production sites.
Industry investment
Mozzarella and pizza cheese manufacturer Dairy Partners has begun construction of a new £15m cheese production site near Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Dairy Partner’s new 7,000m2 facility will be located on a 2.1 hectare greenfield site just outside of Stonehouse and will incorporate production, storage and logistics areas, as well as offices, a test kitchen and café.
Meanwhile, Anglesey-based Mona Island Dairy is to create 100 new jobs as part of a £20m investment into a new cheese factory at its existing facility.
Due for completion in September this year, the 2,322.5m2 facility has been supported by a £3m grant from the Business Innovation and Tourism Escalator Scheme and will produce 7,000 tonnes of cheese a year.
