Avara Foods, one of the UK’s leading food businesses, is spending record sums at its processing site at Brackley, Northamptonshire.

A total of over £11 million is being invested in state-of-the-art technology and equipment, along with a major upgrade to staff facilities. These investments are creating new jobs and increasing productivity.

The bulk of the investment is centered around equipping and fitting out a new packing hall to improve product throughput.

New conveyors, automated handling systems and an ergonomic workspace design all combine to increase efficiency, improve colleague experience and boost the site’s operations.

“This is the largest single investment we’ve ever made at Brackley and it’s an exciting step forwards for the company,” commented Claire Tarvit, site manager at Avara Foods, Brackley.

We firmly believe steady investment in our people, facilities and technology is the best way to sustain growth and offer our people greater career opportunities; the automation of certain processes allows greater opportunities for more skilled roles in maintaining and monitoring equipment performance.

“Covid-19 has changed the way we work, but we’re proud to continue feeding the nation during these challenging times.

“We’ve implemented strict safety controls and distancing policies throughout the site, keeping our colleagues safe as they work.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming new people to the company, as these exciting improvements are completed at our Brackley plant.”

Andy Dawkins, chief executive officer at Avara Foods, commented:

We’ve had a home in Brackley since the early 1970s, and this planned investment is proof of our long-term commitment to both our people and customers.

“Where others in the market are delaying the implementation of plans for growth due to uncertainty around Brexit, we’re forging ahead with a comprehensive capital investment programme in which we plan to spend over £100 million improving our British operations over the next three years, solidifying our position as a leader in poultry processing.”