apetito invests £31million in its food manufacturing site
apetito, the UK’s leading food producer for the health and social care sector (and owner of Wiltshire Farm Foods), today announces that it will be investing £31million in its South West based, food manufacturing business resulting in job creation in the company’s Trowbridge site. apetito is a £125m food and nutrition food production company which has been operating in the UK for over 25 years. The company supplies a wide range of products focused on taste and nutrition to hospitals, care homes, local government meals on wheel services as well as via its private meal delivery service Wiltshire Farm Foods. apetito is the largest private sector employer in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and supports over 2000 UK jobs nationwide. The investment enables the company to continue to grow its business; supporting the UK economy and providing continued job security. apetito expects to create around 40 jobs during the building of the expanded production facility. Commenting on the investment, Food Minister George Eustice said: “Our thriving food industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK – bigger than cars and aerospace combined – and this significant investment by apetito is a real vote of confidence in the South West and the UK as a place to do business. “I’m pleased the investment will lead to the creation of so many local jobs, while raising the UK’s global profile and securing our reputation as a great food nation.” The investment will deliver; • A UK new business opportunity worth around £28million to a wide range of suppliers in the construction, design, manufacturing equipment supply and project management • Enhanced manufacturing capacity • Improved manufacturing efficiency • State of the art cooking facilities to deliver the highest standards of taste and nutrition • Continued reduction in carbon footprint – delivering a 47% reduction in carbon intensity 47% since 2017 (CO2 emissions per £m sales) apetito plans to extend its factory to support the planned growth over the next 10 years plus. Detailed planning is now in progress and building will commence in 2018 with the expanded site is due for full completion by 2020. Baroness Scott of Bybrook, leader of Wiltshire Council said: “This is really good news for Wiltshire and, in particular for Trowbridge. I am delighted that apetito as a leading national company has decided to invest further in its food manufacturing site in the county town. This major investment of £31 million is a huge boost to the local economy, securing the company’s presence here, and creating new jobs in the area. The council looks forward to continuing to work with apetito as a strategically important company, on this significant business growth programme.” Paul Freeston, Chief Executive, apetito UK concludes: “As one of largest food manufacturers in the health and social care sector, we remain focussed on building our UK business and in doing so supporting the UK economy and our employees with job security. apetito is proud of its UK manufacturing base and the economic and social contribution that we make here in Britain, whether as an employer – or in the service we provide in delivering nutritious meals to elderly and vulnerable individuals.”
10 key characteristics of ‘good nutrition and hydration care’
In 2015 NHS England was asked by Department of Health to review the Council of Europe ’10 key characteristics of good nutrition and hydration care’. These have been reviewed and changes been made following feedback from stakeholders that included patient and public representative organisations; NHS providers; commissioners; national NHS organisations; catering providers and independent pharmaceutical food supplements providers and professional organisations (BAPEN, BDA). The implementation of the ’10 key characteristics of good nutrition and hydration care’ is a requirement to meet the Hospital Food Standards SC19 in the NHS Contract for hospitals. The updated 10 key characteristics are: Screen all patients and service-users to identify malnourishment or risk of malnourishment and ensure actions are progressed and monitored. Together with each patient or service user, create a personal care/support plan enabling them to have choice and control over their own nutritional care and fluid needs. Care providers should include specific guidance on food and beverage services and other nutritional & hydration care in their service delivery and accountability arrangements. People using care services are involved in the planning and monitoring arrangements for food service and drinks provision. Food and drinks should be provided alone or with assistance in an environment conducive to patients being able to consume their food (Protected Mealtimes). All health care professionals and volunteers receive regular raining to ensure they have the skills, qualifications and competencies needed to meet the nutritional and fluid requirements of people using their services. Facilities and services providing nutrition and hydration are designed to be flexible and centred on the needs of the people using them, 24 hours a day, every day. All care providers to have a nutrition and hydration policy centred on the needs of users, and is performance managed in line with local governance, national standards and regulatory frameworks. Food, drinks and other nutritional care are delivered safely. Care providers should take a multi-disciplinary approach to nutrition and hydrational care, valuing the contribution of all staff, people using the service, carers and volunteers working in partnership.
