UK manufacturing company Premier Foods has announced a £19m, two-phase investment at its Ambrosia factory in Lifton, Devon, to increase production capacity, improve efficiency and support more than 320 jobs.
The first £9m phase has modernised rice pudding and custard production with a new custard filling line and high-speed packing lines that switch pots to fully recyclable packaging.
A second £10m phase, including a small factory extension to house a new custard-making plant, is under way and due to complete next summer.
Premier Foods said the efficiency gains will free capacity to meet rising demand for Ambrosia porridge pots, launched in 2022.
The new high-speed process is expected to cut energy use by 50% compared with traditional cooking methods while moving custard and rice pudding pots to recyclable packaging.
“The investment shows how committed we are to Lifton and to keeping our manufacturing here in the UK,” said Rachel Matheson, factory general manager at Premier Foods’ Lifton site.
“Ambrosia is one of Britain’s most loved food brands, and we’re proud to keep making it right here in Devon… it’s great to see how success like this enables us to reinvest in the site, back into our teams and in increased capacity.”
The site, operating since 1917, produces around 65 million kilos of custard and rice pudding annually, using more than 50 million litres of milk from West Country farms.
Premier Foods said the programme supports its Enriching Life Plan and wider strategy to invest in UK manufacturing, with benefits expected to include productivity gains, cost reduction and further scope for innovation.
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