Premium potato chip company Burts has invested £3 million in its production site in the UK, helping to realise a 20% increase in capacity.
The manufacturer has installed a new high-speed potato frying line, which will help meet growing demand from retailers across the UK, US, Canada and EMEA region.
It means that production at the site – in Plymouth, Cornwall – will increase to 200 tonnes a week. As well as traditional potato chips, Burts produces a range of better-for-you options including its Lentil Waves and Quinoa Crinkles. Capacity for those lines will reach 23 tonnes a week.
Burts Chips managing director David Nairn said: “The investment this year forms part of an ongoing programme over the last five years that has seen nearly £12 million spent on increasing production capacity and driving efficiencies at our Plymouth site. This has enabled us to realise significant year-on-year growth across all areas of our UK and export business, taking the company from £11.4 million in 2013 to £24.5 million in 2016.
The high-speed potato frying line will help realise a 20% increase in capacity.
“This year we are on course to grow by a further 30% and the new potato fryer is integral to this success, giving us the additional capacity needed to fulfil increased demand from our existing customers, as well as driving new business and innovation.”
The fryer is the company’s second high-capacity line to be installed and the tenth overall at its Plymouth plant. It sits alongside upgrades made to the factory’s bagging system, introduced to cope with the increased volumes earlier this year.
Further investment is also planned in the first quarter of next year with the introduction of a fully automated palletisation system.
The additions have also helped to create 12 extra jobs, bringing the total number of Burts employees to 168.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024