The two-phase development will deliver a 70% increase in output thanks to the installation of new equipment, while Calbee also plans to construct a 3,000 square-metre cooking and preparation warehouse and a 1,000 square-metre storage warehouse at the site.
The development was designed in order to allow Calbee to meet the growing demand for crinkle-cut crisps through Seabrook, diversity its range of options and expand the Harvest Snaps brand.
It also follows a similar investment at Calbee’s Deeside site earlier this year, where £3m was spent on extending the group’s product capabilities and adding additional capacity in snacks.
According to Mintel, UK retail sales for crisps, savoury snacks and nuts are forecast to exceed £7bn by 2028, with crisps enjoying a 76% share of the UK snacking market.
Currently, Seabrook produces crisps in a variety of different flavours, as well as different snacking options across various formats.
Commenting on the planned developments, Calbee UK managing director Daniel Woodwards said: “This planning approval is a further and significant step forward for Calbee UK. The focus we have on producing delicious crisps and snacks at everyday affordable prices is really resonating with retail customers and shoppers alike.
“What we want to do now is to increase the capacity of our core crisps, having extended the range and variety of snacks we offer earlier this year. Meeting with more of the snacking occasions we know shoppers enjoy allows us to put our long-term strategy and ambition for greater scale into practice.”
In other news, Spanish drinks producer Damm is opening its first brewery in the UK, according to The Times.
