Coca-Cola products bottler reveals multi-million pound investment and recruitment
Wakefield-based Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, will make an £11m investment over the next five years in a material handling equipment (MHE) fleet.
The fleet will include forklift trucks powered solely by renewable electricity. 76 MHE units are being introduced at the Wakefield site, which has used 100% renewable electricity for over 10 years and has already seen a 62% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2010.
The site, which produces 11,000 bottles and cans every minute, is home to a 500-strong workforce and has received £87m in investment since 2017. It currently operates ten manufacturing lines.
Changing from gas-powered to lithium ion battery-powered MHE will result in a 5% reduction in carbon produced by the facility in Wakefield alone, equivalent to a reduction of almost 900 tonnes of CO2, or to the power used by 53 three-bedroom houses each year.
Alongside this project, CCEP is also recruiting for 33 roles at Wakefield in its warehouse and manufacturing teams.
The Wakefield base is Europe’s largest soft drinks production site by volume, and was visited by Morley and Outwood MP Andrea Jenkyns to coincide with the investment and recruitment announcements.
Vanessa Smith, director of supply chain operations at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Wakefield, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to welcome Andrea Jenkyns to mark this significant milestone in our sustainability journey.
“We have a longstanding presence in the Wakefield community and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how the site has evolved – particularly over the past 18 months as we’ve reached various landmark moments in our journey to net zero – including our solar farm expansion and the roll-out of our 500ml bottles made from 100% recycled plastic.”
Stephen Moorhouse, vice-president and general manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (GB), said: “With COP26 currently underway, it’s arguably more important than ever that businesses do all they can to bring their sustainability strategies to life and to support UK governments in their efforts to build back better.
“This latest investment in our MHE fleet is just one way we’re accelerating our path to net zero.
“Our people at our Wakefield site have been key to making this – and the site’s ongoing evolution – happen, and I’m proud they were to be able to showcase this to Andrea Jenkyns MP.”
Jenkyns added: “CCEP has a strong foothold in the local Wakefield community and business landscape.
“It’s been remarkable to see the site adapt and evolve over the past three decades, and to see its ongoing commitment to the sustainability agenda, which remains a huge focus for UK governments as we host COP26.
“I look forward to seeing CCEP continue on its journey here in Wakefield in the months and years to come.”
