Nestlé is investing £28 million in its Dalston factory in Cumbria, home of Nescafé Frothy Coffee, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge manufacturing, sustainable operations and long-term growth.
This major upgrade includes the construction of a state-of-the-art mixing plant and the installation of two advanced high-tech packing lines, capable of producing up to 60,000 frothy coffee sachets per hour.
The investment includes a new £17.5 million mixing plant and two new packing lines worth £10.7 million. The four-storey mixing plant will introduce updated equipment and systems designed to improve efficiency and recipe accuracy, while also reducing manual handling by 80 per cent through the use of larger ingredient bags.
The new packing lines will replace older machinery and include technology capable of producing up to 60,000 sachets per hour. The lines will also be compatible with new packaging materials such as Mono PP laminate, enabling fully recyclable sachets.
Richard Watson, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “We are very proud of our British manufacturing and this investment reflects the great work being done by our teams to position the UK as a market with significant manufacturing expertise and capability.
“The Dalston investment is a prime example of how we’re investing in the future of the British food and drink industry - modernising our operations and supporting local jobs, driving growth opportunities and being more sustainable.”
Markus Campbell-Savours MP for Penrith and Solway, said: “I have recently visited the factory and am pleased to see this investment in high tech manufacturing in Dalston.”
Ian Pipes, Nestlé Dalston Factory Manager, said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment which marks a significant step forward for our Dalston site. By upgrading our facilities with the latest technology, we’re not only improving product quality, but also creating a more sustainable and supportive environment for our teams.”
The site manufactures products including Nescafé Cappuccino, Nescafé Latte, Coffee Mate and Starbucks-branded latte mixes. The factory was originally built in Cumbria due to its proximity to dairy farms which provide the sustainable fresh milk needed to produce 25 million Nescafé Cappuccino and Frothy Coffee sachets every week.