Walkers, the manufacturer of British crisp classics such as Wotsits and Monster Munch, will have an investment of £58 million and generate up to 100 new positions at its Leicester facility.
According to PepsiCo, it was the company’s largest investment in the United Kingdom in the past quarter-century.
The site, one of the largest crisp and refreshment facilities in the world, is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
PepsiCo said the investment would result in the installation of a new production line and the replacement of extant apparatus.
It will also involve extensive renovations to the employee facilities for the site’s 1,120 employees, including training areas, a new restaurant, and meeting spaces.
PepsiCo stated that the investment would ensure the longevity of the factory and position Walkers for future development.
It was stated that the intended production line would increase the factory’s capacity and permit the production of more Walkers treats, particularly Wotsits and Monster Munch, which have gained popularity in recent years.
Once construction is concluded in 2024, some of its crackers, such as Wotsits Giants and Monster Munch Giants, which are currently manufactured in Europe, will be manufactured in Leicester.
The funds will also be used to replace furnaces so they are powered by renewable electricity, which PepsiCo estimates will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,000 tonnes per year, and to implement compact packaging equipment to remove plastic from snack multipacks.
In 2018, the company was asked by activists to make its packaging recyclable.
It was stated that its packaging was now recyclable at major supermarkets.
The company also intends to invest in the creation of additional healthful refreshment lines.
