Kellanova is ploughing £75m into its Wrexham site to more than double its production capacity – its largest single investment into British cereal production in over 30 years.
The factory, which was opened by Kellanova (formerly Kellogg Company) in 1978, is the largest Special K plant in the world. All Bran, Bran Flakes and Fruit ’n Fibre are also produced at the site.
This latest investment will see the production of all Kellanova’s UK cereal brands – including Corn Flakes and Crunchy Nut – transition to Wrexham by the end of 2026, as the business winds down production at its Trafford Park factory.
In addition to increasing capacity at Wrexham, two new “advanced” production lines will enhance the sustainability of cereal manufacturing by using artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to lower energy consumption during the production process.
Kellanova claims the installation of these lines will help reduce the CO2 emissions in its cereal production by 11% annually.
New packaging lines will also be added, and existing production lines will be upgraded to improve the efficiency of cereal production at the factory.
Kellanova hopes the move will give it increased flexibility, allowing it to quickly introduce new cereal formats and ingredients in future to meet evolving consumer tastes.
The investment will also fund significant upgrades to the site’s training facilities and lead to the creation of at least 130 jobs in Wrexham, with career development opportunities for the existing 350 colleagues working at the site.
“This investment is a major commitment to cereal production in the UK,” said Kellanova UK MD Chris Silcock.
“By bringing together the manufacturing of all our major breakfast cereals at one site in Wrexham, we can make significant leaps forward in the efficiency, quality and sustainability of our operation.
“It sets us up for future success and opens up new possibilities for our iconic brands to continue delighting our customers and consumers.”
The move comes after Kellanova unveiled plans to close its Trafford Park factory in February, putting 360 jobs at risk. The Grocer understands conversations with its Trafford Park staff regarding their future employment are ongoing.
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