Haribo signs JPG engineering firm for new factory

09-Dec-2013 - Last updated on 10-Dec-2013 at 14:02 GMT

Gummy Bear maker Haribo has engaged JPG to build its new £92M sweet factory at Castleford, West Yorkshire

Sweet manufacturer Haribo has booked Leeds-based engineering firm JPG to build its £92M confectionery plant at Castleford, West Yorkshire.

JPG is consulting with the German Gummy Bear manufacturer to deliver production facilities on the 30,700m² site. Construction will focus on four production buildings, an energy conservation centre, silo buildings, a despatch building and a gatehouse.

The new factory – revealed by FoodManufacture.co.uk in April 2011 – will have the capacity to produce about 48,000t of sweets each year – mainly for the UK market. But the factory is also expected to supply exports to countries such as Japan, North America and Australia.

The factory is expected to reach full capacity by 2016.

Regional Growth Fund

Backed by a £6.4M grant from the government’s Regional Growth Fund, as part of round 1 of the scheme, the project is expected to create up to 300 jobs.

Chris Harding, director at JPG, said: “Our previous work in the area means that we already have extensive knowledge of the local landscape and this has assisted Haribo enormously in planning civil and structural elements for its very specific facility demands.

“We also have extensive knowledge of the food industry with projects undertaken for ARLA and Carlsberg. The structural and material demands for any food manufacturing facility are very complex due to hygiene, processing and temperature requirements.”

The engineering firm had already advised Haribo on the acquisition of the site, after its work on nearby projects at Pioneer Business Park, Wakefield Europort and Normanton Industrial Estate. The sweet factory is located at junction 31 of the M62.

JPG is part of a design team, which includes The Harris Partnership as architect and Silcock Leedham as mechanical and electrical engineer.

Just phase one of the firm’s expanision plans

Meanwhile, in October Haribo md Herwig Vennekens told FoodManufacture.co.uk that the current development work could be just phase one of the firm’s expanision plans for the site.

“The factory we are building now is phase one. There could be further phases,” said Vennekens.

Growing demand for products such as Tangfastics and Star Mix was the main reason for boosting production at the site, which currently employs 540 people, he added.

Today (December 9) is the closing date for bids for cash from the Regional Growth Fund, from which private sector businesses can claim £1M or more.