Princes completes first phase of £80m site expansion in the UK

Princes has completed the first phase of a planned £80 million investment in its Long Sutton site in the UK with the opening of a new pea plant at the facility.

Long Sutton is the firm’s largest food production site in the UK, producing a range of canned products such as peas, pulses, beans, bean meals, fruits and canned ready meals.

“This is a hugely significant milestone in our £80 million investment programme at Long Sutton, and we are very pleased to have delivered the new pea plant both ahead of schedule and in time for the start of the busy pea season in Lincolnshire,” said Andy Hargraves, programme director at Princes.

“Our development programme is providing state of the art equipment, better energy efficiency and increased production at the site, and is a major part of our commitment to UK manufacturing and providing long-term, high-quality employment opportunities in the area.”

The core investment project at Long Sutton is worth over £63 million and is set to continue over two years, during which the factory will remain fully operational. The project involves the refurbishment and development of a new raw material warehouse and handling facility, new ingredients processing kitchen and a flexible production line for canned ready meals.

A further £17 million is also being invested in capital projects over the same period, including a replacement hydrostat cooker, a soft water plant and new anaerobic digester, which processes waste into biodegradable material, and the implementation of a new IT system. 

Princes also recently completed a £4 million investment in new staff welfare facilities, a canteen and improved office spaces for employees at the site.

The new plant was opened by Rob James, factory general manager, and Marc Heading of Gerald Heading & Sons, which supplies peas to the site.

“It’s an honour to be involved in the opening of this impressive new pea plant at Long Sutton,” said Heading. “We have been growing peas in the local area for over 50 years since my grandfather ran the business, and we are very proud to continue our relationship with the site as it enters the next stage of its growth and development.”