Kellanova has announced a substantial investment of £75 million to enhance its cereal production plant located in Wrexham, North Wales.
This marks the company’s largest single investment in British cereal manufacturing in over 30 years, as disclosed by the entity formerly known as Kellogg Company.
The Wrexham factory, which commenced operations in 1978, is Kellanova’s largest Special K facility globally. The site also produces other well-known brands such as All Bran, Bran Flakes, and Fruit ’n Fibre.
As Kellanova winds down production at its Trafford Park facility, scheduled for closure in late 2026, the manufacturing of additional Kellogg’s cereal brands—including Corn Flakes and Crunchy Nut—will shift to Wrexham.
This transition will more than double the annual cereal production capacity at the Wrexham plant, positioning it as the largest cereal manufacturing location in Europe, with an output of approximately 1.5 million boxes of iconic cereal brands each day.
In addition to increasing production capacity, the installation of two new advanced production lines will significantly enhance the sustainability of Kellanova’s manufacturing processes. These lines will leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to reduce energy consumption during production.
This initiative aims to decrease the CO2 emissions from Kellanova’s cereal production by an impressive 11% annually—an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 600,000 trees. The new technology will also optimize the use of raw materials, such as rice, yielding a ten-fold reduction in food waste across the supply chain.
Furthermore, the upgrade will include the addition of new packaging lines and enhancements to existing production lines, ultimately driving greater efficiency within the factory’s operations.
Apart from these technological advancements, Kellanova emphasized that the new production lines will offer increased flexibility. This capability will empower the company to swiftly introduce new cereal formats and ingredients to align with changing consumer preferences.
This investment is set to create at least 130 jobs in Wrexham while also fostering career development opportunities for the 350 existing employees at the facility. Additionally, it will contribute to ongoing employment prospects for team members at its Manchester plant and fund significant upgrades to the site’s training facilities. This move demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting employee development and career advancement.
Chris Silcock, Kellanova’s UK managing director, remarked: “This investment is a major commitment to cereal production in the UK. By bringing together the manufacturing of all our major breakfast cereals at one site in Wrexham, we can make significant leaps forward in the efficiency, quality and sustainability of our operation. It sets us up for future success and opens up new possibilities for our iconic brands to continue delighting our customers and consumers.”
He further stated, “This is also a huge investment in our people. We’re very pleased that we will be creating at least 130 new roles in Wrexham, as well as improving the existing facilities for our colleagues. The experience and capabilities of our skilled team at Wrexham will be crucial to the success of this transformation, which is a significant milestone in the evolution of our business.”
Finally, he added, “We look forward to making Wrexham the home of our cereal production for many generations to come.”
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds commended the investment for its role in boosting employment, while Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens noted that Kellanova’s plans represent another “huge vote of confidence in the economy of north east Wales,” particularly following Eren Holdings’ recent announcement at Shotton Mill.
