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Nomad Foods has announced a £2.2 million investment in a new potato waffle production line at its Lowerstoft facility, strengthening capacity at one of the UK’s longest-standing frozen food manufacturing sites.
The investment, unveiled on 2 June, forms part of the company’s wider long-term productivity programme aimed at improving efficiency, competitiveness and scale across its European manufacturing network.
The new production will increase waffle output at the site to around 18,250 tonnes annually, equivalent to nearly 45 million potato waffles per year, as consumer demand for frozen convenience foods continues to rise.
Nomad Foods, owner of brands including Birds Eye, Findus, Iglo, Ledo and Frikom, said the expansion underlines its commitment to UK food manufacturing and supply chain resilience at a time of mounting pressure on global food systems.
Eduardo Bachiega, chief supply officer at Nomad Foods, said: “By increasing our production capacity, we’re directly responding to consumer demand for household favourites, such as potato waffles, that are already being manufactured 24/7 at the factory.”
The latest investment follows a recent £12 million spend on chicken processing operations at the Lowestoft factory and accompanies plans for an on-site wind turbine designed to help stabilise long-term renewable energy costs.
Bachiega continued: "At a time of increasing pressure on global food systems, as well as ongoing cost of living challenges for consumers, we continue to invest in our operations, ensuring key frozen food categories such as fish, vegetables, chicken and potatoes remain an accessible food choice for families across the UK and Europe.”
Located at England’s most easterly point, the Lowestoft site has been operational since 1949 and remains one of the area’s largest private sector employers. The 25-acre facility produces Birds Eye potato waffles, chicken dippers, peas and coated fish products, with around 15% of output exported to other European markets.
