Scottish pie maker Bells Food Group has more than doubled its pastry capacity after completing the first part of a three-year £3.6m investment.
The business currently produces 60 tonnes of pastry per week at its Shotts-based factory. The first phase £2.1m investment is now complete, which extends capacity to 140 tonnes and expands the workforce by an additional 25 jobs.
New equipment, including a pastry laminator and spiral freezer, will enable the company to compete for high volume commercial pastry requirements across the UK and Ireland, with the export market also in its sights.
MD Ronnie Miles said: “This new equipment will significantly boost our pastry production levels and allows us to truly compete for the first time in high volume, commercial pastry needs.
“We have a range of food manufacturing businesses on our radar that we would like to work with, supplying pastry for sweet and savoury pies, en-croute products and having the capability to alter our pastry products to suit. A number of discussions with potential customers are currently underway.”
Bells Food, which has a turnover of more than £16m, also makes a range of puff and shortcrust pastry bases, lids, blocks, rolls and lattice cut shapes for the wholesale and retail market.
The latest investment is part of a wider brand development programme, new product innovations and new packaging across its pie portfolio. The brand has also secured additional national listings with Asda.
Established in 1931, Bells employs more than 200 staff at its three manufacturing and logistics sites.
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