PepsiCo has announced the installation of three electric ovens at its site in Leicester, following the recent completion of a £58 million investment in the factory.
The news means some of the UK’s favourite snacks - including Wotsits, Monster Munch, Frazzles, Chipsticks and Cheetos - are now cooked using ovens powered by 100% renewable electricity.
As part of the upgrade, PepsiCo has installed two new electric ovens and, through clever engineering, converted its previously gas-powered oven to run on electric. Switching to these new electric ovens will help reduce the Leicester site’s greenhouse gas emissions by 1,500 tonnes per year, Pepsico says.
The upgrade has been made possible by PepsiCo’s recent £58 million investment in the site which has increased its capacity. First announced in 2023, the investment has also seen Leicester become home to other PepsiCo snack brands such as Wotsits Giants, Monster Munch Giants and heritage Smiths brands like Chipsticks and Frazzles. Moving these production lines to Leicester has helped to cut transport-related emissions across PepsiCo’s UK operations by an estimated 915 tonnes a year.
The upgrades are the latest in a series of sustainability initiatives at PepsiCo’s UK sites as the company continues work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Richard Clarke, manufacturing director at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to see the impact of our investment in each and every batch of snacks made using our new electric ovens. With a new production line, better facilities and now these more sustainable ovens, we’ve been able to transform our home in Leicester and secure its future growth.”
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