The soft drink giant is investomg £26 million into the Knockmore Hill production facility
Coca-Cola has announced a multi-million pound expansion of its Lisburn production facility that will include a new line for recycled bottles.
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has announced a £26million investment into its Knockmore Hill production facility which will see the creation of the new high-speed bottling line that it hopes will be operational by May next year.
The new line for recycled bottles will produce 500ml bottles at a rate of 65,000 per hour and over 36,000 2 litre bottles per hour.
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The company says this is the largest single investment into the facility, which currently employs 550 people, since it opened in 2008 and marks the next stage of development at the site.
Coca-Cola says this also highlights its continued investment in the region and claims a recent study conducted by KPMG for the company and its strategic bottling partner on the island of Ireland showed the NI economy benefited by over £2.4bn from its presence in the region in 2022. This is 4% of the regions GDP.
Simon Fitzpatrick, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland commented: “Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland is a growth focused business, firmly rooted in our local communities. This new investment is a perfect example of how we are continuing to look to the future as we expand and increase our commitment to Northern Ireland.
“The new bottling line will make our manufacturing abilities even more agile, supporting our production facility in becoming the industry leader in supply chain excellence, and ensuring we continue to evolve to meet our customer needs.
“The Coca-Cola system on the island of Ireland is a key value creator, and the study conducted by KPMG is evidence of that. We are a major employer, we drive industry wide growth, while also giving back to the communities we serve.
“By investing in local economies, supporting small businesses, and prioritising environmental stewardship, we are not only enhancing our business operations but also contributing to the overall well-being of society.
“We believe that our success is intrinsically linked to the prosperity of the communities around us, and we will continue to strive for a future where both our business and our communities thrive together.”
Since 2020, over £68.3 million has been invested in the facility in Knockmore Hill. In 2024, a further £3.1 million was invested in a new warehouse to support its newest canning line for Monster Energy which opened in October 2023.
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