A £325 million coffee production facility has opened in Staffordshire.

The new Nestlé factory was unveiled by Business Secretary Sajid Javid today, 10 march.

Nearly 1,000 people are already employed at the Tutbury site, which includes manufacturing and engineering apprentices.

In 2011, the company announced a £110m investment into its Dolce Gusto manufacturing facility to expand production capacity and create 300 new jobs.

This latest opening is also a further stage in a £215m investment to develop a modern freeze drying plant at the site.

Dame Fiona Kendrick, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé UK and Ireland said: "We are taking the UK’s productivity challenge incredibly seriously at Nestlé and this investment has made Tutbury one of our best examples of that."

-- Advertisement --

In addition, Mr Javid also opened the £50m Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick.

The EIC facility is leading global research into new battery and cell technology to support the growth of electric and hybrid vehicle use.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "The investments made by Nestlé and the Warwick Manufacturing Group are tangible signs of the strength and energy of the Midlands economy.

"The region is already worth £222 billion each year to the UK economy and if it matches the predicted growth rate for the UK over the next 15 years, it could create 300,000 jobs and boost the national economy by £34 billion."

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, WMG Chairman, added: "I am delighted that the Secretary of State has opened our Energy Innovation Centre.

"We have a long history of research impact in hybrid, electric and low carbon vehicles which he has been able to see first-hand."

(LM)