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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the world’s largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola, has unveiled plans for a £42.3 million investment in its manufacturing facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
This funding aims to enhance the site’s storage capabilities through the construction of a new Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse.
The ASRS, set to be completed over the next two and a half years, will rise to 38 metres, significantly increasing the warehouse's capacity from 29,000 to 58,500 pallets.
This expansion is expected to streamline operations, resulting in a reduction of approximately 18,500 vehicle journeys annually, which translates to a decrease of 441,000 kilometres travelled on local roads.
This latest investment follows a previous £31 million infusion, which facilitated the installation of a high-speed canning line that commenced operations in July. The new line, capable of producing 2,000 cans per minute, enhances production efficiency for CCEP’s lightweight 330ml cans across popular brands including Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite.
Vanessa Smith, director of Wakefield supply chain operations at CCEP, said: “The new ASRS warehouse ensures we continue expanding our production capabilities as we look to the future and operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible”.
Moreover, CCEP has been proactive in evolving its recruitment strategies, focusing on skills and potential rather than traditional qualifications. This approach has successfully attracted a more diverse workforce, with a notable increase in female representation on the new canning line, where three of four team leaders are women, contributing to a gender split of 40/60.
The Wakefield site has seen a cumulative investment of £103 million since 2019, aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies and sustainability. Recent upgrades include the replacement of gas-powered forklift trucks with lithium-ion battery-powered units, which produce no carbon emissions during operation.
Stephen Moorhouse, vice president and general manager of CCEP (GB), highlighted the importance of the Wakefield facility in the broader context of modern manufacturing. “Wakefield offers a range of modern manufacturing jobs and sits at the heart of many of our latest manufacturing technologies. We’ve invested more than £100 million since 2019 to help us evolve operations on site and further support the local economy,” he added.
Local MP Simon Lightwood commended CCEP’s ongoing commitment to the Wakefield area, noting the positive impact of these investments on both efficiency and sustainability. “It’s fantastic to see the business invest in delivering more efficient and sustainable operations, which shows the organisation’s commitment to being a major employer in West Yorkshire,” he remarked.
As CCEP continues to innovate and expand, it remains focused on minimising its environmental impact, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2040. The company plans to invest €450 million between 2023 and 2025 to support these sustainability initiatives across its operations.
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