ABF plans new bakery
Planning permission has been given to ABF Grain Products to build the plant on the site of the former British Sugar factory in Bardney, Lincolnshire.
An ABF Grains spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Construction is scheduled to commence this year, with the aim of completing the site in 2018.” The company said the more details of the factory were to follow “in due course”.
The company, which owns British Sugar, manufactures many well-known food and drink brands, including: Twinings Ovaltine, Kingsmill, Pataks, Blue Dragon and Silver Spoon.
Weakened euro
ABF was one of the companies to benefit from the Brexit vote in June, it revealed last month in its full year results, after it had faced struggles due to a weakened euro earlier this year.
“Following the result of the EU Referendum, sterling has weakened further and at these rates we expect a bigger translation benefit in the final quarter, with no material transactional effect,” said the manufacturer.
“As a result, our outlook for this financial year has improved and we no longer expect a decline in adjusted earnings per share for the group for the full year.”
‘Outlook for this financial year’
ABF’s group revenue grew 5% to £13.4bn in the 53 weeks to September 17 2016 and adjusted operating profit rose 3% to £1.1bn.
ABF said: “The diversity of our operations and our broad geographical footprint, combined with a strong balance sheet, equip us well to take advantage of these opportunities as they arise.”
The company also saw awards success this year, with its subsidiary Jordans, Dorset & Ryvita Company winning the Food Manufacture Excellence Award for ambient manufacturing company of the year.
Jordans beat off stiff competition in the ambient category from five other manufacturers, including: Alara Wholefoods, Kolak Snack Foods and Weetabix. Read the full shortlist in the box below.
Meanwhile, Muntons plans for a multimillion pound malt factory in Yorkshire could create six new jobs at the company.
Muntons malt production general manager Guy Newsam said: “Were planning permission to be granted, we’d be going ahead with investments and be completed in about 12 to 15 months.”
