Avara Foods invests £2.2m in factory facelift

The investment saw a total overhaul of the site’s shared facilities to create ‘bright, fresh and modern’ places to rest, eat and prepare for work. This included a refurbishment of restrooms and locker rooms, the addition of a new restaurant and remodelling the layout of the building to create an extra room.

Rob Bywater, general manager at Avara, said: “I am incredibly pleased with the finished result, what we have created is the very definition of best in class and embodies our purpose as a company people want to work with and for. ​

Modern environment ​

“At Avara we are truly committed to looking after our people and this major investment in the site is a vital part of delivering on that promise as it creates a modern environment that the team deserve and shows we are not afraid to invest in every area of our sites not just operational technology.”​

The refurbishment is the latest in a string of investments at Brackley.

In 2020, the manufacturer opened a heavily automated packing hall after a £11m investment in facilities, technology and the creation of more higher skilled roles. A further £850k was spent on new offices for several roles in central functions, including HR and finance,

Philip Davidson, operations director at Avara Foods, added: “What I hope is clear from our recent investments, is that yes, technology and automation are important, but so too are the people.​

People first ​

“If you’re serious about looking after the people in your business, as we are, it has to take many forms: from creating skilled roles and opportunities for progression, to a range of benefits and an inclusive culture. Excellent people facilities are just as important and I see what we’ve done at Brackley as a template for the modern working environment that we aspire to create everywhere at Avara.”​

Avara has invested up to £70m across its operations since 2018, with a significant focus on technology and automation.

New packing technology in Telford and Hereford has opened new opportunities to package products more efficiently and with up to 50% less plastic, while new production technology in processing sites at Abergavenny and Newent are increasing productivity and efficiency.

Meanwhile, fresh prepared meals manufacturer Bakkavor has secured a £13.3m asset finance deal from HSBC UK​ ​to help fund an overhaul of its refrigeration systems.