The Hilltop 15,000 sq ft site includes a sweet pie filling production line, condiment and sauce making capabilities, along with a whole new peanut butter milling and packing system at a separate site.
The launch into new production areas represents the business’s ambitions to grow Hilltop into a global food manufacturing brand that is “known for more than just honey” Scott Davies, founder of Hilltop told Food Manufacture.
The upgrades are designed to offer a comprehensive suite of services for own label and brands seeking contract packing, blending and packing, as well as fulfilment and logistics solutions.
The company says its enhanced infrastructure ‘will allow the business to serve as a one-stop partner for brands aiming to streamline production and distribution operations’.
It will also give customers the opportunity to explore new formats, increase output, and scale production with consistency and efficiency.
Alongside the facility upgrades, the business has also launched the Hilltop Food Group which includes its Hilltop brand, its USA counterpart, Scott’s, and its manufacturing business.
Hilltop says the move represents a ‘significant step’ in its growth strategy as it expands its capacity to meet rising demand across the FMCG sector and looks to strengthen its position as a trusted partner to FMCG businesses across the UK and beyond.
“We’ve invested significantly in developing our state-of-the-art production facility in Wales. This has enabled us to extend our current capabilities to include packing, fulfilment and production of food items outside of our traditional honey and maple syrup offering. We’re now full steam ahead on sweet pie fillings, nut butters and ketchup, among other lines,” said Davies.
“With a strong track record in own label production, under the Hilltop Food Group, we look forward to creating new partnerships and driving growth through enhanced collaboration with food businesses.”
This follows a rebrand for Hilltop and a £10 million banking packaging from Santander UK secured last year to help boost trade in the US, the Middle East and Australia.
The funding package included stock finance, FX facilities, invoice finance, and the refinancing of a term loan, providing Hilltop Honey will the working capital to accelerate global expansion, hold more stock and drive recruitment.
