A £4.2 million investment in a new hi-tech production line – which officially launches next month – is set to help breakfast cereal manufacturer Dailycer UK double its turnover to over £54m in three years.
Dailycer UK, which is based at Deeside Industrial Park within Deeside Enterprise Zone, produces own brand cereals and cereal bars for the UK’s leading supermarkets.
The investment and expansion – which was supported by £480,000 from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund – safeguarded the entire workforce and has already created fifteen new jobs, bringing staff numbers up to 154.
The investment involved the creation of a mezzanine floor and external extension to accommodate the new technically advanced cereal bar production line.
It will boost the factory’s production capacity to 5200 tons of cereal bars a year and discussions around new products are already under way with many existing and potential new customers in the UK and Europe.
The new line, which is now ready for commercial production, will be officially launched at an Open Day during Flintshire Business Week ( 13-16 October).
Economy Minister Edwina Hart, who visited the company last year, said: “Dailycer is an important employer in the region and I am delighted Welsh Government support is helping to create and safeguard jobs. The company has ambitious growth plans and it’s good to hear this investment will increase the company’s competitiveness and open up a range of new business opportunities.”
Managing Director Pete Robertson said the new state-of-the-art equipment introduces new technology to the site enabling the business to compete effectively in an increasingly competitive market.
The equipment means production is leaner, more energy efficient and minimises waste with a number of sophisticated features which add value through the ability to create an extensive range of new recipes, coatings and innovative shaped bars.
Mr Robertson said: “A wider and highly innovative product range makes the business far more competitive for the future and opens up a range of new opportunities to serve different market segments and explore export markets.
“We have exciting plans and this first phase investment creates the platform for this future growth which is great news for the staff who are extremely loyal, skilled and hard working.
“Without support from the Welsh Government this project would not have gone ahead. It was vital and provided our new owner with the confidence to make a substantial investment in the facility. We have already seen a significant increase in cereal sales recently and achieving year on year increase in turnover which we aim to double in three years to over £54m.”
Dailycer’s fortunes have been turned around since its acquisition by an Indian entrepreneur in 2013, following the insolvency of its German parent company.