Coffee roaster Matthew Algie is making a multi-million pound investment in its production headquarters in Glasgow.
The investment will take place over two years, with a new bean processing room being the first major work on the timeline.
The expansion plan adds 38 new employees to the existing 250.
Established over 150 years ago, the company has experienced significant growth in recent years, with the new strategy of being able to roast approximately 2,500 tons of coffee annually.
The project includes the introduction of a new green bean mixing system, improved automation, new transport systems and packaging lines.
In addition to the operational improvements, the investment supports plans to become net zero by 2035, with the entire business – including the supply chain – aiming to meet the target by 2040.
A new green storage area will allow jute bags to be replaced by larger one-ton transport bags, which should result in a 90% reduction in manual handling and increased coffee container capacity. Shipping coffee in bulk containers from coffee-producing countries to ports in the UK could increase capacity by 11%, and onward delivery to the Glasgow site should yield a 25% increase in capacity, reducing costs and carbon emissions.
Paul Chadderton, general manager at Matthew Algie, said: “This recent investment round builds additional capacity and will future-proof the company to offer even more products to its customers.”
The Glasgow roastery is already carbon neutral, but the company has recently launched a roadmap outlining investment and improvement programs across the business to go net zero.
“Equally important is how these improvements will help bolster our efforts to reach net zero as our UK and Ireland operations will be carbon neutral or better by 2035, with our entire value supply chain net zero by 2040,” explained Chadderton.
Matthew Algie’s investment project has been made possible with support from Scottish Enterprise.
Rhona Allison, director of business growth at Scottish Enterprise, said: “This innovative project will improve the company’s productivity and production capacity, while also reducing carbon emissions, creating 38 new jobs and securing many existing roles in the process.”
The investment work will be carried out around ongoing production and should be completed this autumn.
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