The multi-million-pound works will see the Nestlé Purina Wisbech site undergo a facelift, with a re-vamp of its facilities, upgrades to machinery, and a series of ‘green’ initiatives to improve energy usage and carbon emissions.
The investment of more than £150m into the site that produces Felix, Gourmet and Winalot will also see Nestlé recruiting 40 new positions, adding to its already 600-stong team.
The new roles will be focused on optimising and maintaining the new technology being introduced as part of the upgrade, with training also being rolled out for existing employees.
“This investment reflects the great work being done by our teams to position the UK as a market with significant manufacturing expertise and capability and where targeted investment, like the upgrades at Wisbech, can contribute to the growth of our business here and around the world,” commented Richard Watson, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland.
Earlier in the year, Nestlé reported its real integral growth had recovered, rising by 2.1% in the first half of 2024. Its pet care division saw witnessed mid single-digit growth, driven by continued momentum for its science-based premium options, such as Purina Pro Plan.
Jez McInerney, Nestlé Purina’s Wisbech factory manager, added: “Purina is committed to creating top quality nutrition for the nation’s pets – but it’s certainly not all we do. We work tirelessly to do more of what matters beyond the bowl as well, for pets, for the people who love them and the planet. None of this would be possible without the fantastic work of the project team and everyone who’s based here in Wisbech.
“We’re delighted to have secured this large-scale investment, to ensure our site is best-in-class and fit for a bright future.”
This latest investment follows several others, including York, Halifax and Buxton, with the UK and Ireland division injecting more than £650m into its UK factories over the past decade.
In other news, the UK has seen its exports to EU fall in the first half of 2024. Read the trade snapshot here.
