A SOFT drinks giant is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its Rugby factory by thanking colleagues for their dedicated service.
This summer, Britvic is marking the anniversary of its flagship site at Glebe Farm Industrial Estate.
The company held a family fun day for over 500 employees and their families, featuring a resident DJ, fairground rides, a penalty shoot out, mini golf and a Britvic bar.
The site, which produces cans of soft drinks including Tango, 7UP and Pepsi MAX, has seen over £125million of investment since 2018, with the factory most recently benefitting from a new £27million state-of-the-art canning line in September 2021 – Rugby’s fourth canning line, growing the site’s total capacity by around 20 per cent and creating 20 new jobs.
The new canning line operates at a rate of around 120,000 cans per hour – among the fastest in Europe – taking the factory’s total production to 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.”
Investment has also seen the workforce increase to more than 340, with roles ranging from engineering to manufacturing, and many apprenticeships included among them.
Paramjeet Pahdi, Director of Operations at Britvic’s Rugby site.
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.”
