This investment follows the completion of a second state-of-the-art factory and enhancements in digital capabilities
To support the growth of Unilever’s food business in the UK, a £40 million investment has doubled the total output at Unilever’s Burton food factory over the past three years. This investment follows the completion of a second state-of-the-art factory and enhancements in digital capabilities.
Unilever’s largest food factory in the UK, located in Burton, has undergone a significant transformation over the last five years. This transformation has consolidated the production of the entire Unilever UK condiments business into one specialised hub in Burton.
With 99 per cent of products made at the Burton site being distributed to UK retailers, this investment will facilitate the continued growth of Unilever’s food business in the UK by focusing on improving supply chain efficiencies, enhancing capabilities, and significantly increasing production at the site.
The newly built factory, adjacent to the existing one, has increased the site’s footprint by 50 per cent to 31,000 square meters. It has also welcomed the production of popular brands such as Hellmann’s, alongside Colman’s, Marmite, and Bovril.
Investment in digital technologies has optimised operations across the two food factories and nine production lines, leading to a doubling of volume and a 13 per cent increase in overall factory efficiency over the past three years. With the final investment in a new Hellmann production line completed this year, 2024 is expected to be a record year for the factory, which is set to produce an average of 9 million jars and bottles of condiments each month.
The new factory features advanced machinery and automation, including automated production lines that utilise real-time data capture and analysis to enhance efficiency and minimise waste. Additionally, there is a fully automated palletisation process, consisting of two robotic arm palletisers and three top-loading palletiser robots capable of packing over 1,000 pallets a day. The facility has also incorporated in-house 3D printing capabilities to replicate and replace standard machine parts as needed.
