The parent company of McVitie’s today announced a £21 million investment in its Stockport factory.
The cash injection into the Wellington Road North site will be used to introduce a new chocolate moulding line featuring state-of-the-art robotic technology and is set to create 45 new jobs on top of the 450 people already employed at the site.
London-headquartered pladis, which owns the McVitie’s brand, confirmed the move was part of a wider package of investments in the UK worth £68 million. The biscuit and cracker maker will spend the bulk of this across its sites in the North-West including Aintree, Carlisle and Stockport to support the growth of its operations.
This vote of confidence in the region as a manufacturing powerhouse, comes on the back of new data which revealed pladis’ manufacturing operations across the North-West generate almost £240 million for the regional economy each year.
The red-bricked Greater Manchester base of the biscuit maker has been a well-known landmark to drivers along the A6 since it opened in 1917.
As well as being the only place in the world to make McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes and Penguin bars, the 3,564 square metre site is home to a giant chocolate refinery where all the chocolate used to top McVitie’s Digestives is made.
Anthony Coulson, general manager of the pladis Stockport factory, said: “Our Stockport site has a proud history and an exciting future. 80 million packets of McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives are made every year, with all of the chocolate made in Greater Manchester. Today’s investment will bolster our presence in the region and future proof our heritage brands, providing more people with the biscuits they love”.
The Member of Parliament for Stockport, Navendu Mishra, commented: “I warmly welcome Pladis’ £21 million investment in their Stockport factory. This significant investment, which will create 45 new jobs, not only safeguards hundreds of existing roles but also reinforces Stockport’s reputation as a vital hub for innovation and industry- protecting our town’s proud manufacturing heritage and future. Supporting world-famous brands like McVitie’s here in Stockport boosts our local economy and community, and I look forward to seeing this growth continue for many years to come.”
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is a major vote of confidence in Stockport – in our people, our potential and our proud industrial past. McVitie’s is part of the fabric of our town, and this investment helps secure its future here for generations to come – cementing Stockport as the official home of not just the iconic Jaffa Cake, but now the McVitie’s Chocolate Digestive too.
Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, said: “This investment in Stockport is excellent news for Greater Manchester and its advanced manufacturing sector. Introducing new state-of-the-art robotic technology at the site of the iconic and much-loved biscuit brand strengthens our position as a leading innovation hub while creating 45 new jobs for local people. Investments like this reinforce Greater Manchester’s reputation as the ideal location for food manufacturing businesses looking to innovate and scale. We’re committed to enabling further developments that bring both technological advancement and meaningful job creation to our city-region. It’s a significant vote of confidence in Greater Manchester’s skilled workforce and our dedication to supporting businesses that drive regional growth.”
Today’s announcement follows a period of sustained growth for pladis, with group revenues including the UK increasing by 8% year-on-year to £2.8 billion, according to its most recent financial disclosures
