WARWICK, ENGLAND — Pilgrim’s UK announced a £1.8m ($1.9 million) investment in its Bodmin, England, plant, a leading supplier for the United Kingdom’s cooked bacon. The investment is part of Pilgrim’s strategy to maximize operational capacity while progressing toward carbon net zero status.

“Our Bodmin factory plays a vital role in the Pilgrim’s UK network,” said Daniel Inch, site director at Pilgrim’s UK. “This package of investment forms part of our ongoing strategic focus on enhancing operations and increasing capacity across our UK business, while taking important strides towards our net zero commitment.”

The facilities’ enhancements include new, high-speed packing lines and a storage racking system, which increases overall pallet size by 20% to 120 spaces. After the improvements, the Bodmin plant expanded its operating capacity to more than 400 tonnes of gammon per week and 80 tonnes of cooked bacon.

“These enhancements will help us continue to deliver high quality products while consistently maintaining 100% service levels, even during peak seasonal periods,” Inch said. “Investing in state-of-the-art equipment and renewable tech like this, alongside nurturing our 270-strong team of dedicated people, while encouraging new talent into the industry, are key to ensuring a bright future for our Bodmin site.”

To meet its carbon neutral goal by 2030, Pilgrim’s UK invested in on-site greenhouse gas reduction projects. The company uses LED lighting all throughout the Bodmin facility. Over half of the plant’s power comes from solar photovoltaics (PV) on its roof, with more panels planned in the future. A new forklift and electric pallet truck fleet have also been added, with built-in card access and shock monitoring to increase the safety of workers.