Heck Foods’s £3.5M factory creates 75 jobs

By Gwen Ridler

- Last updated on GMT

Heck Foods creates 75 jobs at new £3.5M factory. Events planner Jack Tate pictured
Heck Foods creates 75 jobs at new £3.5M factory. Events planner Jack Tate pictured

Related tags New product development

Sausage maker Heck Foods has created 75 jobs at its new £3.5M factory in North Yorkshire, following a multi-million pound investment from Lloyds Bank.

Heck said the 1,985m2​ factory in Bedale can produce more than 700 sausages a minute and was expected to increase the company’s turnover to £18M a year.

Andrew Keeble, co-founder of Heck Food, said: “Our investment in the new factory will be key to securing Heck’s place as Britain’s favourite sausage on the plate.

“Innovation is at the heart of what we do and we’ve been busy taking the traditional British banger and giving it a healthier makeover. We’re one of the last independent businesses in the British sausage industry, selling nearly double the volume of our closest competitor.”

Yorkshire’s farm-to-table supply chain

Richmond, Yorkshire MP Rushi Sunak commended Heck for its investment in the local community and for its demonstration of the value of Yorkshire’s farm-to-table supply chain.

Earlier this year, Heck announced plans to open the new factory, creating jobs across production, purchasing, human resourcing and new product development. Heck worked with construction firm Celsius Projects to develop the site.

After considering a number of potential sites, a decision was made to develop an agricultural setting, which had historic connections to the Keeble family.

The factory comprises of a two-story structure that contains production lines, temperature controlled storage and staff facilities. The new site will become the headquarters of the business.

Exceed growth expectations

Ian Smellie, relationship director at Lloyds Bank said that Heck was now in a position to exceed growth expectations for food and drink firms over the next five years.

“It’s ambitious and innovative producers like Heck that are creating jobs and investing in growing young talent, and helping Britain’s food and drink sector to prosper,”​ added Smellie.

Meanwhile, Burts Chips has boosted capacity by 20% at its Plymouth factory and created new jobs,​ after investing £3M in a new high-speed potato frying line to meet export demand for its products.

Heck Foods’s new factory – at a glance

  • Cost heck £3.5M
  • Created 75 new jobs
  • 1,985m2 ​floor space
  • Capable of producing 700 sausages a minute
  • Will increase Heck’s sales to £18M a year

Related topics Meat, poultry & seafood

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