New Fruitapeel factory to create jobs in Wales

Manufacturer of fruit- and confectionery-based sauces, Fruitapeel, is opening a factory on the former Sunjuice site in Llantrisant, Wales.

The move, which was financially supported by Welsh Assembly Government through the Single Investment Fund, will create up to 50 jobs. The fund provides financial support to local businesses in Wales.

Sunjuice closed the site earlier this year when its parent firm Serious Food went into administration. The closure resulted in over 100 redundancies, plus the loss of Sunjuice’s assets, including equipment and production lines, which were bought by Dutch auction house Troostwijk.
Fruitapeel md, Terry Haigh, said that the new facility will target the retail and foodservice sectors, and that his firm will buy additional equipment to produce a range of freshly squeezed and pasteurised juices in bottles and cartons. According to Haigh, the facility will be up and running within the next six weeks.
He said: “I have every confidence our new facility in Wales will be a success - my business background is in the juice sector and there is a gap in the market for freshly squeezed juices, which I intend to fill.”
Fruitapeel supplies sauces for a variety of products including Del Monte, Chicago Town, Beechdean, Tate & Lyle and Cadbury. Its ingredients are used in ice cream, frozen desserts, bakery and dairy products.
Ieuan Wyn Jones, minister for the economy and transport at the Welsh Assembly Government, added: “We welcome the news from Fruitapeel. It is exactly the outcome we hoped for and we are extremely pleased that this investment will create new jobs and provide employment opportunities for those people who lost their jobs when Sunjuice closed.”