Premier Foods is investing £19m in its Ambrosia factory in Lifton, Devon, to increase production capacity in response to strong consumer demand for its porridge pots.
The three-year investment plan, being rolled out in two phases, is expected to protect over 320 local jobs.
The food manufacturer stated that the first phase, valued at £9m, has already introduced a new custard filling line and high-speed packing equipment, streamlining production and transitioning Ambrosia pots to fully recyclable packaging.
Meanwhile, an additional £10m is being invested in a factory extension and a new custard-making plant, scheduled for completion next summer.
The upgrades will increase capacity to keep up with rising demand for Ambrosia’s porridge pots, while also reducing energy consumption in custard and rice pudding production by 50%.
Lifton has been home to Ambrosia since 1917 and continues to be a key regional employer, sourcing over 50 million litres of milk annually from West Country farms.
Premier Foods, whose portfolio also includes Mr Kipling, Bisto, and Oxo, said the Lifton site will continue to support apprenticeships, long-serving staff, and community initiatives such as river health monitoring and school careers guidance.
Rachel Matheson, Premier Foods factory general manager, said: “The porridge pots have been a huge hit, and it’s great to see how success like this enables us to reinvest in the site, back into our teams and in increased capacity. Our site has been part of the Lifton community for over 100 years and we’re just as excited about what’s coming next.”
