New Samworth Brothers site to create up to 700 jobs
Samworth Brothers announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Leicestershire this January, creating 700 jobs.
A spokesman for Leicester City Council said a deal had been struck for Samworth Brothers to buy 50,000m2 of greenfield land at Aston Green, north Leicester on the condition that planning permission is granted.
Samworth Brothers’ chief executive Lindsey Pownall said: “The land is close to Bradgate Bakery and Walkers Charnwood Bakery, which stand next to each other in Madeline Road.
It provides a site if we feel there’s a market. It wouldn’t come to fruition until at least 2014.”
The site will create 200 jobs initially with a further 500 to follow.
Although it was still too early for Pownall to confirm the specific nature of the products that would be manufactured there, she did say it would be chilled food.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said it was “excellent news” for the city at a time of “severe economic downturn”.
Samworth Brothers’ businesses include pasty brand Ginsters. Sandwich firm Melton Foods and chilled own label manufacturer Tamar Foods.