A year and a half after breaking ground at its La Rioja manufacturing site, The Kraft Heinz Company has unveiled a new, state-of-the-art processing plant in a move that will boost the factory’s capacity by 50 per cent.
The expansion project, which has seen €70m invested into the factory over the last three years, has resulted in new high-speed filling lines and a brand-new pilot plant located at the food company’s Nijmegen R&D centre.
The investments strengthen the site’s position as one of the most efficient Kraft Heinz factories in Europe, enabling the company to keep up with rising demand for its expanding range of Heinz sauces.
This sizable investment reflects the strategic importance of Heinz within the company’s ambitious growth plans and will help leverage the company’s scale to boost the brand’s presence in Europe.
“The expansion of our Alfaro factory marks an important step in our journey to become Europe’s number one player in sauces, in and out of home,” said Willem Brandt, President of the company’s European and Pacific Developed Markets (EPDM). “With increased capacity and new, cutting-edge technology, we’ll be able to respond more readily to evolving culinary trends and tastes – including the demand for healthier versions of fan favourites, like Heinz mayonnaise.”
The creation of this new plant will also generate 39 new permanent jobs in La Rioja.
In addition to producing a range of Heinz sauces for local and European consumption, the Alfaro plant processes around 25,000 tons of locally grown tomatoes each year for the company’s market-leading Orlando brand.
Spain is a key production centre for Heinz in Europe and boosting capability in the region brings the Company closer to its ambition to lead the future of food.
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