‘Home of Doritos’ secures £13m investment

PepsiCo has announced a £13m investment into its Coventry factory – known as the ‘home of Doritos’.

The site is Europe’s largest tortilla chip factory and has been making Doritos since it first launched in the UK 30 years ago.

Funds will be used to replace a manufacturing line with brand-new equipment, including more efficient machinery that will reduce the site’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 700 tonnes a year.

An extensive upgrade to staff facilities on site has also been completed, with renovated working spaces, new changing rooms, a brand-new training centre and a fully refurbished on-site restaurant. The new training centre will increase upskilling opportunities at the site thanks to replica equipment offering team members the opportunity to develop skills off the factory floor.

The new manufacturing line will continue to make the Doritos range in the UK, including Doritos Dippers which last year became the first Doritos product to classify as non-HFSS.

It is the latest in a number of investments in PepsiCo’s UK manufacturing sites, with total investment since 2020 now standing at more than £140.

PepsiCo says the investment in Coventry, alongside last year’s £58m investment in the Walkers manufacturing site in Leicester reaffirms its commitment to the Midlands, where it employs over 2,100 people across its Leicester, Coventry and Lincoln sites.

Nearly a third of UK households buy Doritos according to the food giant, with sales of £237m following growth of more than 20% over the last two years4.

Layla Whiting, managing director at PepsiCo said: “We’ve been perfecting the tortilla chip here in Coventry for the past three decades, and I’m proud of our role in helping to build a loyal Doritos fanbase and make the brand a household name in the UK. This investment marks our commitment to the teams who have played such a key role in Doritos’ success over the years, and to our home in Coventry as we celebrate our 30th birthday.”