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Brexit: John Redwood says he hopes both UK and EU ‘flourish’
The UK completed its full departure from the EU at the end of last year after signing an 11th-hour trade deal with Brussels following nearly a year of tense and often bitter negotiations between the two sides. Many within the EU have taken to lashing out at Britain for ending 47 years of membership of the bloc, warning of trading and economic consequences that may follow. But the UK and Boris Johnson have continued to insist the UK will thrive outside the EU, with the Prime Minister celebrating the country’s new found sovereignty and insisting Britain has “taken back control”.
Now the move from Heinz to switch production of its most famous sauces appears to be the latest example of that.
The production of ketchup, a popular addition when squeezed over burgers and chips, had moved to the Netherlands and ended around 80 years at home in this country.
But in the latest huge boost to Brexit Britain, the famous red sauce is now returning to the UK, with Kraft Heinz also returning to making salad cream and mayonnaise here.
The US food giant is spending an additional £140million on its plant at Kitt Green near Wigan in a move it has described as a “strong vote of confidence” in the UK.
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Brexit news: Heinz ketchup will once again be made in the UK
The huge investment is the biggest the company has made in over 20 years at a site outside the US and will also create 50 full-time jobs.
Kitt Green currently produced 1.3billion tins of food each year, 94 of which is consumed in this country, such as beans, soup and pasta.
Kraft Heinz has insisted the move back to the UK for the production of the famous sauces and the massive investment being made in the North West also meets with Mr Johnson’s “levelling-up agenda” in post-Brexit Britain.
The firm added bringing back the production of sauce to these shores is “designed to meet the demand from a new generation of UK consumers”.
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The plant’s site director, Luis Spinardi, said: “This is a very exciting time for Kitt Green and I am proud that the potential for the site to grow and modernise is being recognised.
“As a result of this proposed investment, we are now in the fortunate position where Kitt Green can become a much more modern facility and our teams will have the ability to adopt more contemporary ways of working whilst exemplifying the highest global standards for food manufacturing.
“Not only are we excited to be expanding our product mix by bringing sauces back to the UK but also look forward to a more efficient facility with a sustainable future.
“Consumers remain at the centre of everything we do, and this was particularly evident during the pandemic; I would like to thank all our teams for their relentless dedication, commitment and resilience throughout the year helping to feed the nation.
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“We are proud to continue our journey as a motivated team to reach our common goal of establishing Kitt Green as a world-class manufacturer, delivering exceptional performance in everything we do.”
Minister for Investment Lord Grimstone hailed the news as a “vote of confidence in the UK economy” along with the jobs and growth it will also create.
He also talked up the prospect of a lucrative post-Brexit trade deal currently being negotiated between the UK and the US.
The former banker said: “Whether you’re a Heinz mayonnaise or ketchup fan, the investment is a vote of confidence in the UK economy from a major US firm and a boost that will mean jobs and growth.
“The US is a key trading partner and we are committed to striking an ambitious trade deal that opens up new opportunities for our businesses, brings in more investment and creates better jobs for people across the whole of the country.’
Joe Clarke, Unite union national official for food, drink and agriculture, added: “This is tremendous news for the hard-working members at Kraft Heinz.
“It reflects the exceptional co-operative working that has been built upon over many years, especially over the past 12 months with everybody pulling together through Covid, keeping the nation fed throughout the pandemic.”
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