Beacon Foods, based in Brecon, Powys, has invested £60,000 in a 300-litre brat pan to increase production flexibility and support smaller customer orders.
The new food processing technology will allow the manufacturer to handle batches ranging from 50kg to 150kg. The equipment will be used across the company’s portfolio of compotes, chutneys, relishes, candied zests and boiled products, supporting changing food manufacturing trends and demand for more adaptable production.
“As a business, we like to be flexible when servicing customer orders of all sizes,” explained Jas Singh, operations director at Beacon Foods.
“We have larger kettles for customers ordering two tonnes of product, but the brat pan is ideal for smaller, 50 to 150 kilo orders.”
The latest investment forms part of a wider programme through which Beacon Foods has spent more than £6m over the past three years. That funding has enabled the company to double the capacity of its manufacturing and storage facilities.
Earlier this month, the ingredients producer also expanded its transport operation with two 26-tonne refrigerated lorries. The additional vehicles are intended to improve daily deliveries throughout mainland Britain, reflecting evolving food distribution trends and the need for dependable supply chain performance.
Tech Trucks UK, based in Eardisley near Hereford, provided two MAN TGX 26.520 tractor units. The Reefer Trailer Centre in Stoke-on-Trent supplied two 13.6-metre Chereau dual-compartment trailers equipped with Carrier refrigeration systems.
Simon Morgan, supply chain manager at Beacon Foods, added: “We now make 95% of the daily deliveries with our own fleet of vehicles and travel to most parts of Wales, England and Scotland, which is all part of the personal customer service provided by the company.”
“We are expanding our fleet to keep up with demand for Beacon Foods products from our ever-growing customer base. The new lorries add extra capacity, reliability and flexibility.”
Beacon Foods serves food manufacturers, foodservice businesses, coffee shops, fast-food operators, and customers across the travel and hospitality industries. Its investment programme supports the company’s response to food and beverage industry trends, including food and drink consumer trends focused on product variety, service reliability and operational flexibility.
Founded in 1993, the company is a specialist UK producer of garlic, ginger and chilli purées, roasted and chargrilled vegetables, fruit products, relishes, chutneys, sauces, soups, confit products and fruit compotes. Its ongoing development also reflects wider food and drink industry innovation, while efficient logistics and product manufacturing remain central to meeting customer requirements across the sector.