Natures Way Foods expands Selsey site

Selsey-based Natures Way Foods, the UK's market leader in bagged salad, has invested in its site on the South Coast to support its long-term growth strategy and meet customer demand.

Known as the ‘Home of Babyleaf, the Selsey site been extended twice since it opened in 1995. The latest investment sees an increase of 2,500 sq m, bringing the total to 12,400 sq m, which makes it the largest bagged-salad site in the UK.

Natures Way Foods has spent the past 12 months extending the existing factory and it now contains some of the most advanced equipment for bagging babyleaf products. The company has added 100 new roles at its Selsey site alone.

Nathan Bennett, engineering projects manager at Natures Way Foods, said: “It’s been remarkable to deliver such a large-scale, complex project in the middle of a pandemic. Seeing the design and innovation come to life and working with the best teams in the industry will enable Natures Way Foods to achieve its growth plans and makes me feel proud to work here.”

In addition to the investment in the factory and equipment, the company’s IT infrastructure has also been significantly upgraded with fibre-optic cabling and a redesign to support the future growth of the business. Roof-mounted air conditioning units have been installed to provide stable temperature and humidity.

Natures Way Foods’ general manager Gary Kilhams said: “I’m proud to lead this exceptional site as experts in babyleaf production. The demand for babyleaf products, spinach, watercress and the like, is on the rise and we will deliver the best quality and service to our customers.”