Pladis, the parent company of biscuit brand McVitie’s, is investing £21m into its Stockport factory in a move that will create 45 jobs.
London-based Pladis confirmed the move was part of a wider package of investments in the UK worth £68m. The biscuit and cracker maker will spend the bulk of this across its sites in the North West including Aintree, Carlisle and Stockport to support the growth of its operations.
The cash injection into the Wellington Road North site in Stockport will be used to introduce a new chocolate moulding line featuring modern robotic technology at the factory, which currently employs 450 staff.
New data has revealed that Pladis’s manufacturing operations across the North West generate almost £240m for the regional economy each year.
The red-bricked Greater Manchester base of the biscuit maker originally opened in 1917.
As well as being the only place in the world to make McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes and Penguin bars, the 3,564 sq m site is home to a huge chocolate refinery where all the chocolate used to top McVitie’s Digestives is made.
Anthony Coulson, general manager of the Stockport factory, said: “Our Stockport site has a proud history and an exciting future. Eighty million packets of McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives are made every year, with all of the chocolate made in Greater Manchester.
“Today’s (July 14) investment will bolster our presence in the region and future-proof our heritage brands, providing more people with the biscuits they love.”
The Labour Party MP for Stockport, Navendu Mishra, said: “I warmly welcome Pladis’s £21m investment in their Stockport factory.
“This significant investment, which will create 45 new jobs, not only safeguards hundreds of existing roles but also reinforces Stockport’s reputation as a vital hub for innovation and industry, protecting our town’s proud manufacturing heritage and future.
“Supporting world-famous brands like McVitie’s here in Stockport boosts our local economy and community, and I look forward to seeing this growth continue for many years to come.”
Cllr Mark Roberts, leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is a major vote of confidence in Stockport – in our people, our potential and our proud industrial past.
“McVitie’s is part of the fabric of our town, and this investment helps secure its future here for generations to come – cementing Stockport as the official home of not just the iconic Jaffa Cake, but now the McVitie’s Chocolate Digestive, too.”
Today’s announcement follows a period of sustained growth for Pladis, with group revenues including the UK increasing by eight per cent year-on-year to £2.8bn.
