Up to 100 new jobs could be created at Walkers' Leicester facility, which produces iconic British crisps like Wotsits and Monster Munch, thanks to a £58 million investment.
Owner PepsiCo claimed it was its largest investment in the UK in 25 years.
The factory, one of the largest in the world for crisps and snacks, is commemorating its 75th birthday.
A new manufacturing line would be installed as a result of the investment, according to PepsiCo, and older equipment would be replaced.
Additionally, it will necessitate extensive work on the site's 1,120-person workforce's amenities, such as training spaces, a new restaurant, and conference rooms.
According to PepsiCo, the investment would support the factory's long-term viability and set up Walkers for future expansion.
According to the plan, the factory's capacity would increase, allowing for the production of more Walkers snacks, including the increasingly popular Wotsits and Monster Munch.
When construction is finished in 2024, Leicester will begin producing some of the company's crisps, including Wotsits Giants and Monster Munch Giants, which are currently produced in Europe.
The money will also be used to replace ovens so that they are powered by renewable electricity, which, according to PepsiCo, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,000 tonnes annually. Compact packaging equipment will also be installed in order to reduce plastic in snack multipacks.
The business received requests to make its packets recyclable in 2018.
It claimed that significant supermarkets now accept recycling of its packaging.
Additionally, the company wants to spend money on creating new, healthier snack lines.
There is no better time to renew our commitment to Leicester, a city and community that have been essential to our success in the UK, according to Jason Richards, senior vice president and general manager at PepsiCo UK and Ireland. In 2023, we will be celebrating 75 years of Walkers crisps.
"As we prepare for the next 75 years and future-proof our UK operations, this £58 million investment will transform our manufacturing facility, and the addition of cutting-edge machinery will enable us to meet our goals for packaging and health.
"In addition to improvements to meet the increased demand for our snacks, we're proud to be investing in better facilities for our employees, who continue to be at the center of bringing our most beloved snacks to homes across the nation. ".
With up to 100 new roles being created to manage workload across the new equipment and technology, he continued, the investment would also mean new training opportunities for workers.
Following a £24 million investment in PepsiCo's Lincoln factory announced in 2021, additional investments have been made recently in the company's Skelmersdale and Coventry Walkers locations, as well as its Leicester distribution center.
