Up to 100 new jobs are to be created at Leicester’s Walkers factory, following a £58m investment, which will ‘future proof’ operations at the site.
The investment, from parent company PepsiCo, is its largest for a quarter of a century and will pay for the installation of a new manufacturing line, the replacement of existing machinery with sustainable equipment and an extensive revamp of staff facilities at the Beaumont Leys site.
The new manufacturing line will increase capacity at the factory and enable the production of more Walkers snacks including Wotsits and Monster Munch. It is expected to reduce the amount of virgin plastic used in the brand’s multipack outer packaging by 56 tonnes a year.
The money will also help it switch from gas-fired ovens to electric ovens, powered by green energy – and helping cut around 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. There will also be new mixing facilities so that it can develop healthier snack ranges.
1,120 people currently work at the site, and up to 100 new roles are set to be created to manage workload across the new equipment and technology.
Jason Richards, senior vice president and general manager, Pepsico UK & Ireland, said: “In 2023 we’re celebrating 75 years of Walkers crisps, so there’s no better time to renew our commitment to Leicester – a city and community that have been crucial to our success in the UK.
“As we look ahead to the next 75 years and future-proof our UK operations, this £58 million investment will transform our manufacturing site and installing state-of-the-art equipment will help us deliver on our ambitions on packaging and health.
“Alongside upgrades to meet increased demand for our snacks, we’re proud to be investing in creating better facilities for our people, who remain at the heart of bringing our most loved snacks to households across the country.“
The work should be finished next year.
