PepsiCo invests £8m to bolster Pipers Crisps production
PepsiCo has invested £8m in its Lincolnshire factory to boost its Pipers Crisps production and “expand the brand internationally”.
The food and beverage company said its investment in the Briggs Lincolnshire manufacturing site will boost production capacity by nearly 80% in a bid to meet growing demand for the popular snack.
This will be achieved by replacing existing crisp fryers with new energy-efficient models and installing new packaging machines at the Lincolnshire factory.
The site upgrade will also add to PepsiCo’s commitment to its sustainability targets, including its current goal to achieve an absolute reduction across its value chain by more than 40% by 2030, and reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
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Alongside increased production and sustainability efficiency, PepsiCo’s new funding is set to upgrade facilities including workspaces and staff changing rooms for the factory’s 100 local workers.
The investment coincides with Pipers Crisps 20th anniversary and marks 20 years at the factory and five years since PepsiCo acquired the brand.
Originally only available in small independent venues such as pubs, cafe’s and bar shops, the brand has since expanded its distribution network to include national wholesalers such as Booker, Brakes and Bidfood, and hospitality operators Mitchell & Butlers, Stonegate and Youngs.
Pipers Crisps head of operations Mirjam Fogarty said: “Pipers is a much-loved brand with a rich heritage, and we’re delighted to be making this investment at such an exciting stage in our journey.
“From small independent pubs, cafes and farm shops, to working with some of the UK’s biggest wholesalers and hospitality operators, the funding will help us bring our delicious crisps to more people, wherever they are, and expand our brand internationally. With Pipers’ 20th birthday fast approaching, I’m looking forward to the next phase of our growth.”
The new funding follows PepsiCo last year investing £58m in its Walkers Leicester factory to transform the manufacturing site and future-proof operations.
