PepsiCo has installed three electric ovens at its site in Leicester, following the recent completion of a £58 million investment in the factory. It means snacks including Wotsits, Monster Munch, Frazzles, Chipsticks and Cheetos, are now cooked using ovens powered by 100% renewable electricity.
As part of the upgrade, PepsiCo has installed two new electric ovens and converted its previously gas-powered oven to now run on electric. Switching to these new electric ovens will help reduce the Leicester site’s greenhouse gas emissions by 1,500 tonnes per year.
The oven upgrades are the latest in a series of sustainability initiatives at PepsiCo’s UK sites as the company continues work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, PepsiCo replaced elements of the existing manufacturing line for Doritos in Coventry with new equipment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 700 tonnes a year and invested in new, more efficient fryers at Brigg, the home of Pipers Crisps.
Richard Clarke, manufacturing director at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to see the impact of our investment in each and every batch of delicious snacks made using our new electric ovens.
“With a brand-new production line, better facilities for our teams, and now these more sustainable ovens, we’ve been able to transform our home in Leicester and secure its future growth. We’re incredibly proud of all the work that goes into making our iconic snacks right in the heart of the UK, and even more so now we’re doing it in a more sustainable way.”
In addition to introducing new, lower-emission ovens, PepsiCo’s £58 million investment in the Leicester site has also seen the company install a new manufacturing line and upgrade facilities for its 1,192-strong team.
