LONDON, Ontario – Spanish multinational, Natra, has chosen London for a new 100,000 sq.ft. production facility. This new plant is part of Natra’s strategic plan, as the company looks to grow sales in the North American market. Production is expected to start in early 2014.
Serving clients across five continents, Natra is a market leader in chocolate manufacturing and cocoa-derived products for private label brands and international food companies. Natra serves clients across five continents with four specialized production centres in Spain, Belgium and France. The production facility in London will be the newest addition to the company’s consumer goods division, which is responsible for the manufacturing of tablets, countlines, spreads, chocolates and Belgian specialties.
"In 2012, the North American market accounted for 12% of Natra’s consumer goods division’s turnover. Sales in that region rose from 13 million euro in 2011 to 29 million euro at the end of 2012, a growth of 123%,” said Natra’s CEO, Mikel Beita. “With the increased presence of Natra in North America, we estimate that the consumer goods division’s sales in this market will double again in the next three years."
“Natra is a valuable addition to London’s established cluster of food and beverage manufacturers including Nestle, McCormick, Cargill and Labatt,” said Kapil Lakhotia, Interim General Manager, LEDC. “Natra will invest 12 million Euro in the new London facility to effectively address its rising North American demand. The company projects an output of 12,000 tonnes from this new facility.”
“It really is exciting. It is exactly the kind of thing we are trying to make happen. There are opportunities here for foreign investment. This is a very reputable company,” said Mayor Joe Fontana.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Business Development Branch played an important role in attracting the Natra investment to Ontario. Employment of around 60 people is expected in the future when the plant is at full production.
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Conyngham, Director Communications & Marketing
London Economic Development Corporation
519-661-1883
aconyngham@ledc.com
