A Lincolnshire crisp company has received £8 million of funding from an American corporation that owns brands like Pepsi and Doritos. Pipers Crisps will be able to use the money to improve its manufacturing site in Brigg and meet the growing demand for the popular snacks.
One of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, PepsiCo, made the seven-figure investment, marking five years since its acquisition of the Lincolnshire crisp brand and 20 years since Pipers was established. The funding will boost production capacity at the Brigg site by nearly 80 per cent, by replacing existing crisp fryers with new energy-efficient models and installing new packaging machines.
It will also help reduce the site’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 200 tonnes a year. Since PepsiCo’s acquisition of the brand, Pipers has more than doubled its sales.
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Originally available in small independent pubs, bars, cafes and farm shops, Pipers has expanded its distribution network to include national wholesalers such as Booker, Brakes and Bidfood, alongside hospitality operators Mitchell & Butlers, Stonegate and Youngs. Alongside increasing production, the investment will go towards upgrading facilities for the factory’s 100 local employees, including improvements to workspaces and staff changing rooms.
Mirjam Fogarty, Head of Operations, Pipers Crisps, said: “Pipers is a much-loved brand with a rich heritage, and we’re delighted to be making this investment at such an exciting stage in our journey. From small independent pubs, cafes and farm shops, to working with some of the UK’s biggest wholesalers and hospitality operators, the funding will help us bring our delicious crisps to more people, wherever they are, and expand our brand internationally.
“With Pipers’ 20th birthday fast approaching, I’m looking forward to the next phase of our growth.”