PepsiCo expands snack chips production in Europe

PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) is expanding its snack chips production facilities in Europe.

Food Business News reported the Purchase-headquartered company opened its fifth production plant in Poland. The plant will employ 450 people and encompasses approximately 13.5 acres (including office space, warehouse and modern sewage treatment plant) while an adjacent production hall covers approximately 6 acres.

PepsiCo added will include two production lines that will produce 12,500 packs of Lay”™s potato chips per hour while the third will produce 30,000 packs of Doritos nachos, making it the first time a Polish snack plant produces that brand.

“Poland is a strategic market with great development potential, where we have been investing for over 30 years,” said Silviu Popovici, president of PepsiCo Europe. “The opening of this new, environmentally sustainable snack establishment marks a milestone for PepsiCo in Europe.”

Separately Reuters reported PepsiCo would invest $72 million to boost potato chips manufacturing at its Walkers factory in Leicester, England. The funding is expected to create 100 new jobs at the site. The company said it would help meet increased demand for its Walkers brand of snacks.

“The scale of this latest investment is purposeful in securing the future of the factory and positioning Walkers…for further growth in the long term,” said the company in a statement.