United Biscuits to return to full production in Carlisle factory
The producer United Biscuits (UB) has announced that its Carlisle factory is well on its way to the full resumption of baking, after the plant was forced to close on December 5 due to substantial flood damage to the electrical equipment and ovens caused by Storm Desmond in northern England.
The ranges of biscuits and crackers, including Ginger Nuts and Carr’s as well as a number of other household favorites under the McVitie’s, Jacob’s, Carr’s and Crawford’s brands – will start to return to shelves around the end of March.
Since the flood, 540 tonnes of debris have been cleared and all employees have now returned to work allowing for normal production to commence very soon across all lines – including the production of around 250,000 Ginger Nuts every hour. Employees in Carlisle, and across the world, have also been rallying together to help the affected local community through biscuit donations and various fundraising activities. In addition, a company contribution from United Biscuits and parent company Yildiz Holding has been offered to the Cumbria Community Foundation for the 2015 Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal.
Mike Heaney, Factory General Manager at United Biscuits said: “It’s been awful not to be baking biscuits, so we thank everyone that has helped us along the way to get production back up and running. We’re extremely proud of how employees have come together to support the wider local community raising necessary funds and providing biscuits.”
Ali Ulker, Vice Chairman, Yildiz Holding UB’s parent company who visited the site today, commented: “I am very proud to witness first-hand the speedy turnaround of the factory getting operations back up and running.”
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