Second Haribo factory starts to take shape

The concrete shell of the plant, which will produce more than 48,000 tonnes of sweets per year, is now complete.

Work on the new facility – being built by Wates Construction – is expected to be complete by April next year and fully operational by the summer.

Herwig Veenekens, managing director of Haribo, said: “It’s great to finally see the new factory take shape, we are pleased with the progress to date and are excited by the opportunity that this new facility presents.

“It’s great to be so close to where we already are. There is a skilled workforce in this industry around here and the history speaks for itself.

“I think we definitely see this area as our home and an increase in demand has meant that we have had to expand.”

Haribo, which also has a factory in Pontefract, was awarded £6.4m from the government as part of the Regional Growth Fund in 2011 for the development of the former Pioneer Technologies site.

The new plant was built owing to its Pontefract facility operating near to capacity.

Dave Price, business unit director at Wates Construction, said: “The ongoing boost to UK manufacturing will be an extremely valuable means to grow the economy and we are very proud to be playing a central role in ensuring that Yorkshire is at the forefront of this progress.

“Investment breeds investment and Wates’ focus now remains on bringing this facility to life on time and on budget to ensure that Haribo’s expansion not only creates opportunities for local employment but that it becomes a catalyst for further development in the region.”

The site will also have a steel-framed energy centre and sub-station, which will power the facility.

Haribo currently employs 540 staff at the site on Front Street, in Pontefract.