£23m to meet rice demand

The Uncle Ben’s Ready to Heat production line in King’s Lynn.
The Uncle Ben’s Ready to Heat production line in King’s Lynn.
MAJOR international food producer Mars Food UK is to invest £23m in new equipment at the factory producing Uncle Ben’s Ready to Heat rice in the UK.
The King’s Lynn site, which currently employs nearly 300 people, is set to create 28 new full-time jobs as part of the development of additional manufacturing capability. The new production line will be completed early in 2017 to help meet UK market demand.
The move comes on the back of a £6m investment in new office facilities made in 2015.
The new offices were opened by then environment secretary, now secretary of state for justice and Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss MP, who said: “Around the world, Britain is rightly seen as a great place to invest with our £100bn food and drink industry renowned for high quality produce and forward looking innovation.
“This significant investment by Mars is a real vote of confidence in Britain as a place to do business, creating jobs locally and helping drive economic growth for the nation.”
Michael Ryan, regional president, Mars Food, Western Europe & Russia, said: “We have been manufacturing from this site for over 50 years and continue our commitment to investing and growing the site which manufactures some of the UK’s favourite family brands – Uncle Ben’s and Dolmio.”