UCC Coffee UK & Ireland invest £2.5m in Dartford roastery
Coffee supplier UCC Coffee UK & Ireland has invested £2.5m in its Dartford coffee roastery.
The new facilities officially opened on 1 April, and have increased the site's capacity by 50%, to 12,000 tonnes of coffee a year.
The changes included upgrades to the company's software, green bean transportation, silos (huh), and the installation of a new roaster. From German manufacturer Probat, it is capable of roasting up to 1,500kg of green beans in one hour, and includes energy-saving measures.
Elaine Higginson, managing director, UCC Coffee UK & Ireland, said: "The coffee market continues to develop at an astonishingly quick pace. This investment in Dartford has significantly increased our roasting capacity and futureproofed our business, so we can fulfil higher volumes for our customers for years to come."
Rahul Ghosh, director of roastery operations, UCC Coffee UK & Ireland, added: "The decision to invest with Probat is the result of extensive research into what equipment would deliver for our business. It stood out from other roaster manufacturers thanks to the unrivalled roasting quality, which produces an excellent, consistent roast and the highest aroma development in each batch."
Together they provide coffee for a range of foodservice and retail operators, including own label blends and the brands Lyons' Coffee and ThreeSixty.
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