Mr Kipling invests £2.1 million in solar farm at Premier Foods’ Carlton Bakery

Mr Kipling has invested £2.1 million in a solar energy farm at Premier Foods’ Carlton Bakery, aiming to cut emissions and improve energy resilience at the landmark site.

The bakery, one of the UK’s largest food production facilities and a key local employer for more than 50 years, has installed a 2.2MW solar farm on 2.9 hectares of unused land. With 3,500 panels, the system will go live next month.

At peak production, the farm will supply nearly three quarters of the site’s electricity needs, powering mixers, packaging machinery, lighting and office equipment. The investment is expected to save on annual energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by 468 tonnes per year.

More resilient operations

Nick Brown, ESG Director at Premier Foods, said: “Our Carlton Bakery was the largest purpose-build bakery in the world when it opened in the 1970s, and it remains the biggest bakery in the UK. This investment ensures it’s part of a more sustainable future. By generating more of our energy needs on site, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but making our operations even more resilient.”

He added: “It’s also positive that the solar farm has the capability to potentially export electricity back into the local electricity grid, when we are producing more electricity than we need.”

Employing up to 1,000 people at peak times, the Carlton site has been a cornerstone of the community for decades. Steve Morton, Manufacturing Director and Factory General Manager at Carlton Bakery, said: “We’re proud Carlton is playing a part in making food manufacturing more sustainable. The whole team is excited to see the solar panels go live. Carlton has been part of the community for over 50 years, and over that time the site has changed a great deal – this is the next really exciting step in its story.”

Wider programme

The project is part of a wider programme of solar investment across Premier Foods’ network. A £0.5 million scheme at its Stoke bakery has recently been completed, while another of the same value is underway at Ashford and will be switched on in the coming months.

To support biodiversity, Premier Foods has worked closely with planning and ecology specialists and developed a ten-year plan, including new planting to encourage local wildlife.

The project aligns with Premier Foods’ wider “Enriching Life Plan” sustainability strategy. Earlier this year the company confirmed it had commenced a trial of low-carbon fertiliser on UK wheat farms, helping reduce supply-chain emissions and supporting sustainable grain sourcing.