Princes invests £40m at soft drink factory

LIVERPOOL-based food and drink group Princes is to spend £40m redeveloping its Bradford soft drinks factory.

The project will see the creation of new warehouse and production facilities as it looks to increase capacity and improve efficiency.

The site employs more than 300 people and produces 400m bottles of soft drinks every year.

Ken Critchley, managing director of Princes, said: “This strategic investment ensures the site’s ongoing status as one of the leading soft drinks production sites in the UK.

“After years of careful planning and preparation, we are very pleased that construction work is now underway on this important project.”

The redevelopment involves the demolition of old office blocks to make way for a new warehouse that will be connected to the main production facility. The project is due to be completed by autumn next year.

Princes has been owned by Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation since 1989. The firm’s £2bn-turnover European arm is headquartered in Liverpool and is responsible for brands including Jucee squash, Aqua Pura mineral water, Shippam’s spreads and Crisp n’ Dry cooking oil.