50 NEW JOBS AS EMPTY FACTORY SET TO REOPEN
A DESERTED factory that was closed five years ago is now being brought back to life in a major investment.
Halo Foods closed their Tywyn operations in 2013 to relocate to Newport - with 105 workers losing their jobs - and its former main site has been empty since then.
But the rapidly expanding snack bar firm Brighter Foods - started by a former Halo Foods worker Robin Williams - has announced a multi-million pound investment to purchase and refurbish the site. The company – which is growing into a £20m turnover firm with 150 staff – says this will see them create a third production line and create another 50 roles in the Gwynedd town.
“When we launched Brighter foods we refurbished an old warehouse with what we could afford but always had dreams for an additional new build as we grew,” said Mr Williams. “But to be able to breathe new life into the old Halo factory instead is fantastic.
“It is a strange feeling going back into this old building, which has been empty and unloved and stripped of its assets.”
He added: “When Halo closed the community was left with a feeling of ‘that’s it then’, so it was wonderful to launch a new business in the town.
“It’s exciting to think what we could achieve here in the next 12 months as we grow, and how we might transform the old site for Brighter Foods and for Tywyn.
“This will build on our abilities to segregate ingredients which in turn helps us meet the highest standards for manufacturing different food products, including our gluten-free range, or snack bars containing nuts.
“I am incredibly proud of what the team has achieved and, of course, we’re excited about the investment and devel- opment in Tywyn, our home base and the heart of the business.”
This is also part of Brighter Foods’ strategy to de-risk Brexit by manufacturing products bound for the British market in the UK, and make products bound for mainland Europe with partners abroad. Mr Williams added: “We have for many years partnered with other manufacturers in Europe who contract manufacture on our behalf whether for European or UK customers.
“But with Brexit on the horizon and the current exchange rate it’s great to be able to increase the UK capacity even further so that we can make for UK customers in the UK and then have the option of UK or European capacity for European customers, depending on Brexit and the exchange rate.”
Halo left the town after centralising operations in Newport in South Wales. Most staff in the town were made redundant while a handful relocated to the new site.