From:packagingnews

One hundred employees have moved in to the purpose built offices at the £11m Universal Flexible Packaging factory in Lewisher Road

Due to what the company described as unprecedented demand, part of the Leicester site has been producing popcorn since January, but the offices have now been completed and two new machines have been commissioned, increasing capacity by 100%.

This brings the number of jobs at this new factory to 125 in addition to the 150 people at the Lunsford Road plant which received a £2.3m investment to become a Peanut and Tree Nut site.

Commercial director of Universal Flexible Packaging, John Harrison said: “Keeping pace with our growing business has been challenging, but the new Lewisher Road factory and the investment in our Lunsford Road factory has meant that we are now in a prime position to satisfy existing demand and grow our business further.”

The production focus at Lewisher Road is popcorn, whilst the Lunsford Road factory will focus on packaging other dry goods including nuts, confectionery and snack foods.

Universal Flexible Packaging contract packages for several retail brand leaders and multi-nationals and has recently exhibited at Pro2Pack, ISM Cologne and IFE.

The site is 36,500 m², up from 12,000 m², and will increase the company’s production capacity and allow for further planned growth for the future.

The facility  has been supported by a grant of £700k from the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) in addition to £5.15m funding from Royal Bank of Scotland, £750k from Lombard Group, and the remainder from the Durrani family which founded the company in 1995.