Nestlé invests in product for export

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has visited Nestlé in Halifax, UK, to welcome the news that it is investing £5.25m to manufacture a popular new product – Peanut Butter Cups.

The investment means that Nestlé’s Halifax site will create 45 additional jobs.

From this October, Nestlé will manufacture 5,500 tonnes of Peanut Butter Cups each year for export to the US market.

The visit formed a key part of the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s tour of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

The Chancellor announced that a key cornerstone of that plan is to build on the region’s strengths as a centre for manufacturing and create Europe’s largest advanced manufacturing cluster.

Nestlé employs almost 5,000 people in the UK and Ireland across 21 sites and sells almost two billion products every year to 97 per cent to households there. The Halifax site is the home of Quality Street, After Eight and Easter eggs, and employs up to 1000 people at times of peak production.

Nestlé is also one of the UK food industry’s largest exporters, exporting almost £350m worth of products to over 70 countries every year.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne says: “I’m delighted that Nestlé’s Halifax site has won this major new investment that will create 45 new jobs in the local area and boost their exports.”

“Our long term economic plan for Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire is all about backing successful manufacturing businesses in Britain that export across the world and benefit their local economies.”

Halifax MP Linda Riordan says: “I welcome this investment and the new jobs that will be created in the town. Nestlé has a hard working and dedicated local workforce. I am pleased that workers’ hard work been rewarded with this new order. It’s a welcome boost that Nestlé continue to invest and expand the Halifax site, which is a key part of our local economy.”

Giles Mann, factory manager at Nestlé’s Halifax site, says: “I’m delighted that Halifax has been chosen to produce this popular new product in the UK. It’s great that we have been able to work with the US to find a way to benefit both our markets.

“Despite internal and external options across the world, Halifax has shown great leadership in manufacturing capability and more importantly a great desire to bring the production to West Yorkshire.

“This new opportunity further proves our position as world-class and we look forward to seeing the products exported to the US and hitting the shelves.”