McVitie’s owner Pladis commits £68m to UK manufacturing investment and factory modernisation

Credit: Pladis

Snacking manufacturer Pladis is investing £68 million to modernise and expand capacity across its UK manufacturing network, in a move designed to future-proof production of core brands including McVitie’s, Jacob’s and Godiva.

The company will direct the bulk of the capital to key manufacturing sites in the North West of England, including Stockport, Liverpool and Carlisle, with a strong focus on automation, infrastructure renewal and sustainability.

Areas of investment

Pladis is directing its largest single investment of £33 million to the Aintree factory in Liverpool, home of Jacob’s Cream Crackers. The site will undergo a significant upgrade, including the installation of new high-efficiency ovens and core infrastructure improvements to boost performance and reliability.

In Stockport, home to McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes, the snack giant is investing £21 million to install a state-of-the-art chocolate moulding line featuring advanced robotic technology.

Meanwhile, they are allocating a further £2 million to their Carlisle site, the world’s oldest operating biscuit factory, to upgrade the savoury assortments department. This upgrade will also create 48 new roles, adding to the site’s current workforce of around 800 people.

Mete Buyurgan, Managing Director of Pladis UK & Ireland, said:

Today’s announcement is an important milestone in renovating our sites and unlocking capacity for our growth story.

We have a fantastic suite of much-loved brands, baked by dedicated colleagues, and we have a responsibility to continue to nurture these brands for customers and consumers across the world. The news of these investments we are sharing today will enable us to achieve this.”

Back in May, the Food and Drink Federation’s latest State of Industry report found that 41 percent of UK food and drink manufacturers are significantly scaling back or even cancelling planned investments amid challenging market conditions. However, Pladis appears to be bucking this trend with its substantial commitment to modernising and expanding its UK operations.

In addition to enhancing capacity and productivity, the modernisation programme has a clear environmental objective. Across the upgraded facilities, Pladis anticipates annual carbon emission reductions of 876 tonnes, the equivalent of taking approximately 440 petrol cars off the road.

An additional £12 million has been allocated to support infrastructure across all its UK sites, including Harlesden (North London), Leicester and Halifax. With its manufacturing operations in the North West contributing nearly £240 million annually to the regional economy, these enhancements highlight Pladis’ ongoing commitment to this key area.

Aligning operations with market demand

This investment follows a recent strategic push by Pladis to align its operations with evolving market demands, particularly growing consumer appetite for variety, innovation and premium experiences.

Recent product launches, including McVitie’s Jaffa Cake variants, Jacob’s Bites and Godiva’s Dubai-inspired chocolate range, demonstrate the company’s commitment to blending its heritage brands with contemporary tastes.

These manufacturing upgrades will support the company’s ongoing innovation efforts and ensure its facilities are fully equipped to meet future demand, with the current investment rollout due for completion by the end of 2026.