Bells rolls out £3.6m expansion at pastry plant

Bells Food Group has completed the first phase of a three-year £3.6 million investment that will double pastry production capacity at its Shotts plant.

Bells managing director Ronnie Miles. Picture: Contributed

The business currently produces some 60 tonnes of pastry each week and the initial £2.1m of investment also sees the creation of 25 additional jobs.

The new equipment, including a pastry laminator and spiral freezer, will enable the company to compete for high-volume commercial pastry requirements across the UK and Ireland, with the export market also in its sights.

Ronnie Miles, managing director of Bells Food Group, said: “We have a range of food manufacturing businesses on our radar that we would like to work with, supplying pastry for sweet and savoury pies, en-croute products and having the capability to alter our pastry products to suit. A number of discussions with potential customers are currently underway.”

Bells Food Group is a third-generation family business established in 1931. It employs more than 200 people and turns over more than £16m.