Haribo commences construction of confectionery plant in UK

Haribo, a German confectionery company, has commenced construction of a new £92m production facility in Castleford, West Yorkshire, UK.

Spread over 30,700m², the new facility will produce 48,000t of treats, including Tangfastics and Starmix, each year.

The site will complement the company’s existing facility in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

Around 286 jobs will be created for work on the project, which is expected to be completed by April 2015, with the first two production lines due for operations later in the same year.

Haribo UK managing director Herwig Vennekens said that the new factory is a major investment for the company.

"This investment in a new facility will enhance Haribo’s production capabilities and help us to meet the growing demand for our products."

"Our existing factory [in Pontefract] is near capacity and so this new site will allow for progressive expansion, enabling us to continue to extend our offering and to develop new and innovative products," Vennekens added.

The investment is part of Haribo’s strategy to strengthen its footprint across Yorkshire and reinforce its presence as one of the leading confectionery brands in the UK.

In support of the project, the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has awarded a £6.4m grant to Haribo.

The RGF is a £3.2bn fund established by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help companies in England create jobs.

Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, Haribo produces and distributes fruit gums, liquorices, and foam-based sweets, and it operates production facilities in Germany and Europe, with sales offices in the US and Europe.