Premier Foods invests £19m to expand Ambrosia production, support 320 jobs in Devon

Premier Foods is investing £19 million over three years to expand and modernize its Ambrosia custard and rice pudding production facility in Lifton, Devon, supporting over 320 local jobs. The investment is split into two phases: the first £9 million has been used to introduce cutting-edge technology including new custard filling and high-speed packing lines, improving efficiency and switching to recyclable packaging, while the remaining £10 million will fund a factory extension to house a new custard-making plant, expected to be completed by next summer. This modernization aims to meet rising consumer demand, particularly driven by the success of Ambrosia's porridge pots launched in 2022, and will reduce energy consumption by 50% compared to traditional methods. The Lifton site, part of the community since 1917, produces around 65 million kilograms of custard and rice pudding annually, utilizing over 50 million liters of milk sourced from local West Country farms. Factory management expressed pride in maintaining manufacturing in the UK and highlighted the personal and community ties many employees have to the site. The investment reflects Premier Foods’ broader growth strategy to reinvest in its manufacturing sites and enhance production capacity in response to evolving market demands.