News
Kellogg's owner creating 130 jobs with £75m investment in Wrexham factory
Opened in 1978, the factory is the largest Special K plant in the world, while brands such as All Bran, Bran Flakes and Fruit ’n Fibre are also manufactured at the site.
The production of other Kellogg’s brands including Corn Flakes and Crunchy Nut will also transition to Wrexham as Kellanova prepares for the closure of its Trafford Park factory in Manchester towards the end of 2026.
As a result, at least 130 jobs will be created in Wrexham, building on the 350 workers already employed at the factory. As previously reported on Food Manufacture, the Manchester site closure will lead to the loss of around 360 jobs.
The move also comes not long after it was announced that Mars had reached an agreement to acquire Kellanova for around £28bn.
This deal is expected to close during the first half of 2025 provided it does not face regulatory pushback.
Largest investment in British cereal in 30 years
On the announcement of the plans, Kellanova said that the £75m pledge represented the company’s largest single investment in British cereal production in more than 30 years.
Once upgrades are completed, the Wrexham plant’s current annual cereal production will more than double, enabling it to produce around 1.5m boxes of cereal every day.
Two new advanced production lines will also enhance the sustainability of cereal manufacturing by enabling use of AI and machine learning technology to lower energy consumption. This will help reduce the CO2 emissions of Kellanova’s cereal production by 11% annually.
New packaging lines will also be added, and existing production lines will be upgraded to improve the efficiency of cereal production at the factory.
Wrexham the 'home of cereal production'
“By bringing together the manufacturing of all our major breakfast cereals at one site in Wrexham, we can make significant leaps forward in the efficiency, quality and sustainability of our operation,” said Kellanova’s UK managing director Chris Silcock.
“This is also a huge investment in our people. We’re very pleased that we will be creating at least 130 new roles in Wrexham, as well as improving the existing facilities for our colleagues. The experience and capabilities of our skilled team at Wrexham will be crucial to the success of this transformation, which is a significant milestone in the evolution of our business.
“We look forward to making Wrexham the home of our cereal production for many generations to come.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Kellanova’s plans are another huge vote of confidence in the economy of north east Wales. I am delighted to see many more new jobs and major investment coming to the area so soon after Eren Holdings’ announcement at Shotton Mill.
“This government’s key mission is to grow our economy. Making the UK the destination of choice for investors is a crucial part of that plan. And this news is the latest demonstration of the huge part Wales has to play in achieving our growth mission.”
Finally, Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger commented: “Our skilled workforce is one of Wrexham’s greatest assets, and I am confident that their expertise and dedication will contribute to the success of this venture. Additionally, Kellanova’s focus on sustainable practices and environmental stewardship will help the move towards a greener future, benefiting both our economy and our environment. I look forward to a prosperous partnership and the positive impact this investment will have for Wrexham.”
In other news, PepsiCo has entered into an agreement to acquire Siete Foods for $1.2bn.
