Forming part of Pilgrim’s UK’s commitment to sustainability and maximising the operational capacity of the company, the pork producer has announced its Bodmin site has benefitted from developments as part of its £1.8m investment package.
The investment at the site has funded new high-speed packing lines and a storage racking system, increasing overall pallet size by 20%. The development has led to an increase in the site’s productivity, with more than 400 tonnes of gammon and 80 tonnes of cooked bacon being processed each week.
Greenhouse gas reduction projects to decrease electricity and gas usage have been part of the company’s investment, with LED lighting throughout the factory now in place, solar panels on the roof and there are plans for further panels to be added with the aim of being completely off-grid during generating hours.
Daniel Inch, site director at Pilgrim’s UK, said: “This package of investment forms part of our ongoing strategic focus on enhancing operations and increasing capacity across our UK business, while taking important strides towards our net zero commitment. These enhancements will help us continue to deliver high quality products while consistently maintaining 100% service levels, even during peak seasonal periods.
“Investing in state-of-the-art equipment and renewable tech like this, alongside nurturing our 270-strong team of dedicated people, while encouraging new talent into the industry, are key to ensuring a bright future for our Bodmin site.”
Commercial director, Simon Taylor, said: “Our Bodmin site is known for the breadth of cooking styles we offer, as well as the consistent delivery of high-quality service and technical standards. This new investment has unlocked further potential and is attracting new customers keen to improve the quality of their cooked bacon range.”