Burton’s Biscuit Company Invests £2 Million in Cookie Centre of Excellence
Burton’s Biscuit Company, a major player in the UK biscuit market, is investing £2 million in its manufacturing operation at Blackpool. The investment will enable cookie capacity to increase by nearly 700 tonnes per year, and see Blackpool established as the company’s Cookie Centre of Excellence. It is part of Burton’s £13.5 million investment throughout 2013, in building its supply chain and manufacturing excellence to help secure the future supply of products to retailers all over the world.
The Cookie Centre of Excellence will drive innovation in cookie production, through the introduction of a filled cookie line, which includes a new dough depositor and auto-case packer as well as upgrades to existing wrapping equipment to facilitate widespread efficiency improvements. The investment in new technology enables Burton’s to further improve the throughput of its lines, with some now running 24 hours seven days a week, which has also generated opportunities to up-skill employees.
Maryland Gooeys, launched as part of the investment in the filled cookie line, offer a soft chocolatey centre and is a new innovation for the biscuit industry. Maryland remains the nation’s favorite cookie, and saw £7.5 million growth in value last year to become the sixth biggest brand in sweet biscuits.
The Centre of Excellence is also leading the way in cookie innovation with large sized cookies, and a Cadbury cookie variant for France that is nougatine-based. The industry-leading innovation is a result of close collaboration between production and commercial teams who have recently successfully delivered the new Maryland Big and Chunky and Gooeys to market, from the Blackpool site.
Burton’s Biscuit Company has been producing much-loved treats including Maryland Cookies and Cadbury Fingers at itsBlackpoolfacility, which employs nearly 600 people, since 1937.
Derek Harris, Factory General Manager at Burton’s Biscuit Company Blackpool, said: “Our investment in capabilities such as the new Cookies Centre of excellence, enables us to continue to lead from the front and keep the market fresh by bringing new and innovative products to market quicker than anyone else – transforming the biscuit aisle.”
