Britvic celebrates 35 years of investment, innovation and job creation at Rugby factory

This summer, leading branded soft drinks business Britvic is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its Rugby factory, thanking colleagues for their dedicated service and showcasing the investment and innovation that has become synonymous with the company’s flagship facility.

Based on Glebe Farm Industrial Estate, the site has seen over £125 million of investment since 2018, with the factory most recently benefitting from a £27 million investment in a new state-of-the-art canning line in September 2021.

This is Rugby’s fourth canning line, growing the site’s total capacity by around 20% and creating 20 new jobs at the facility.

Boasting some of the fastest lines in Europe, the site’s new canning line operates at a rate of around 120,000 cans per hour, taking the factory’s total production to an impressive rate of just under half a million cans per hour.

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey said: “Britvic’s 35 years in Rugby represent a great success both for the company and for our town’s local economy.

“Over those years, their flagship factory has grown and created hundreds of jobs, including a vibrant apprenticeships programme which has given many young people a first taste of work.

“I was delighted to see the further investment in their fourth canning line which demonstrates their commitment to the Rugby site for many years to come.”

The investment provided Britvic with the additional capacity to drive agility and exemplary customer service, as well as boost production of some of the country’s most loved brands, including Tango, 7UP and Pepsi MAX.

Importantly, investment has seen the work force increase at the site, helping to bring the total number of employees to more than 340 and reinforcing Britvic’s commitment to the local community.

These roles span numerous disciplines, from engineering to manufacturing, with apprenticeships also a key component of the additional rise in employee numbers.
Paramjeet Pahdi, Director of Operations at Rugby, said: “As we celebrate 35 years of our Rugby site, I’m proud to look back at the journey we’ve been on together to make this facility the beacon of success it is today.

“I would like to thank all our colleagues for their contribution over the decades, without their hard work and dedication I have no doubt that we would not be here celebrating such a milestone.

“Looking to the future, Britvic is focused on ensuring that Rugby continues its success story as we develop the site with further investment, securing our future for generations to come.”

Over the past 35 years, Rugby has become well known for showcasing some of the fastest and best manufacturing technology in Europe.

The Rugby factory has also played a key role in Britvic’s sustainability efforts.
Continuous improvements have seen the factory cut the amount of water it uses – most recently by using the cooling water from its combined heat and powerplant as a source of hot water for the site – helping Britvic work towards its net zero carbon emissions target.

Celebrations for the 35 year anniversary began in May with a family fun day attracting more than 500 people to the site.

Employees and their families enjoyed the day with a resident DJ, fairground rides, a penalty shoot out, mini golf and a Britvic bar.