Nestlé is investing £28m to upgrade its Dalston factory in Cumbria, the site that produces Nescafé Frothy Coffee. The investment includes the construction of a new mixing plant and the installation of two advanced high-tech packing lines capable of producing up to 60,000 frothy coffee sachets per hour.
The new four-storey mixing plant, representing a £17.5m investment, features modern equipment designed to improve efficiency and product quality. The facility will reduce heavy lifting by 80 per cent, using a system that handles larger ingredient bags to cut down on manual work and improve accuracy.
In addition, Nestlé is investing £10.7m in two new packing lines to replace older machinery. One of the lines can produce 60,000 sachets per hour and is designed to use new packaging materials, including MONO PP laminate, which is fully recyclable, supporting Nestlé’s sustainability objectives.
Richard Watson, chief executive of Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “We are very proud of our British manufacturing and this investment reflects the great work being done by our teams to position the UK as a market with significant manufacturing expertise and capability. The Dalston investment is a prime example of how we’re investing in the future of the British food and drink industry – modernising our operations and supporting local jobs, driving growth opportunities and being more sustainable.”
Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, praised the investment in high-tech manufacturing, while Ian Pipes, Dalston factory manager, said: “By upgrading our facilities with the latest technology, we’re not only improving product quality, but also creating a more sustainable and supportive environment for our teams.”
Nestlé Dalston has produced Nescafé Frothy Coffee products since 1962. The factory was originally built in Cumbria to be near dairy farms supplying fresh milk for the production of 25 million Nescafé Cappuccino and Frothy Coffee sachets weekly. Since 2010, Nestlé has partnered with First Milk to promote responsible farming, enhance animal welfare, and protect Cumbria’s natural landscape.
