CoFresh £20million investment programme will bring many jobs to Nuneaton

A Leicester-based snack company has announced a £20m investment programme in Warwickshire after acquiring an additional food production and warehousing facility to cater for significant growth and expansion.

Cofresh Snack Food's current site in Menzies Road, Leicester, will continue to specialise in traditional Indian snacks while the new facility on a seven-acre site at the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, will manufacture its Eat Real ‘healthier snacking’ brand.

The scheme will take place over the next 18 months, enabling the business to split its production between two sites and increase annual turnover to more than £100m.

In addition, Cofresh is planning to extend its new Nuneaton site from 140,000 to 180,000 sq ft, bringing the company’s total production and warehousing footprint to just under 400,000 sq ft.

The unit into which they will expand has been empty since 2016 when the former XPO Logistics frozen foods unit closed. The new investment will potentially create more than twice as many jobs as the previous occupier.

CoFresh Ltd currently employs approximately 250 people in Leicester and the new site is expected to require around 150 additional employees across production and warehousing with potential for more in the future.  

Managing director Priyesh Patel said: "We are delighted to be taking this hugely significant step in the development of our business. Nuneaton’s central location is well-placed for our customer base and offers a great infrastructure and easy access from our primary location in nearby Leicester, while the site itself is perfect for our immediate needs and offers great potential for our ambitious business growth."

When planning the move, the company approached Warwickshire County Council to see what local help was available. After meeting the Cofresh senior team to hear about their expansion plans, and touring the factory, the Invest in Warwickshire team provided tailored information and made introductions to relevant local support, including Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC).

NBBC played a key role in facilitating discussions around planning and potential support from the business rates Local Discount scheme, which incentivises employment creation in the borough.  Meanwhile, Midlands commercial agents M1 Agency, the retained agents for the site, worked closely with CoFresh to secure the deal.

Warwickshire County Council Strategic Director for Communities Mark Ryder said; "CoFresh's expansion into Warwickshire is excellent news for the county and for Nuneaton which continues to be a popular location for advanced manufacturing and logistics. I am delighted that the County Council's Invest in Warwickshire team helped smooth the way for such a positive development." 

* Invest in Warwickshire provides soft landing support for businesses looking to set up or expand in Warwickshire. This can include help with property and access to skills, networks and grants. For more infoormation about the range of support we provide please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/invest