Avara Foods has unveiled brand new amenities at its facility in Brackley, following a major £2.2m facelift.
The investment has seen a total overhaul of shared facilities, creating bright, fresh and modern places to rest, eat and prepare for work. From new toilets to locker rooms to a brand-new restaurant, the layout of the building has been completely remodelled to create extra room, The staff restaurant provides subsidised meals and free wi-fi.
“We are serious about our people and I hope these new amenities show just how highly we think of them all,” said Rob Bywater, general manager at Avara. “I am incredibly pleased with the finished result, what we have created is the very definition of a best in class and embodies our purpose as a company people want to work with and for. At Avara we are truly committed to looking after our people and this major investment in the site is a vital part of delivering on that promise as it creates a modern environment that the team deserve and shows we are not afraid to invest in every area of our sites not just operational technology, our people set us apart and these amenities reflect that.”
Moving the majority of office roles to new premises elsewhere in Brackley earlier in the pandemic, the new amenities are also significantly larger than their original footprint, meaning that the team on site can be comfortably, and safely, accommodated – even allowing for social distancing.
In the New Year a further floor will open with extended space for office workers, meetings and hosting visitors.
Avara Foods has been a significant investor in Brackley in recent years and this renovation is just the latest example. In 2020 a new, heavily automated, packing hall opened after a £11m investment in facilities, technology and the creation of more higher skilled roles; plus career opportunities managing the facility. £850k was spent on new offices for a number of roles in central functions, including HR and Finance, again creating a modern working environment that accommodates COVID measures and a flexible working model.
Beyond Brackley, Avara has invested close to £70m across its operations since forming in 2018, with a significant focus on technology and automation. New packing technology in Telford and Hereford has opened up new opportunities to package products more efficiently and with up to 50% less plastic, while new production technology in processing sites at Abergavenny and Newent are increasing productivity and efficiency.
