United Biscuits creates 200 jobs

UNITED Biscuits, the venture capital-backed maker of McVities biscuits, Hula Hoops and Jaffa Cakes, is planning a £10m expansion of its Harlesden plant, in north west London, creating 200 new jobs.

The move will boost production at what is already the biggest biscuit factory in Europe, adding Mini Cheddars and Hob Nobs to the factory's production lines and increasing production to 100,000 tonnes a year from 75,000 tonnes.

London Development Agency officials have agreed with UB chief executive Malcolm Ritchie a grant of £200,000 in the hope of giving a boost to the area.

The LDA toasted the expansion as a major coup for the capital's industrial base, where food manufacturing employs more than 31,000 people.

The deal is part of a major investment programme by UB's owners Cinven, BNP Paribas and a consortium of private equity investors. UB is investing £10m in the site, with the promise of a further £1.1m from the State-funded Learning and Skills Council.