New electric ovens help PepsiCo reduce emissions at Walkers site
Following the completion of a £58 million investment in manufacturing, PepsiCo announced today that three electric ovens will be installed at its Leicester location. This means that ovens that run entirely on renewable energy are now used to prepare some of the most popular snacks in the UK, such as Wotsits, Monster Munch, Frazzles, Chipsticks, and Cheetos.
As part of the upgrade, PepsiCo has installed two brand-new electric ovens and, through clever engineering, converted its previously gas-powered oven to now 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 (compared to gas usage from previous 12 months).
The upgrade has been made possible by PepsiCo’s recent £58 million investment in the site which has increased the site’s capacity to cook some of the nation’s favourite snacks. 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 oven 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. Last year, PepsiCo replaced elements of the existing manufacturing line for Doritos in Coventry with new equipment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 700 tonnes a year (compared with usage before installation in October 2024) and invested in new, more efficient fryers at Brigg, the home of Pipers Crisps.
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 delicious snacks made using our new electric ovens. With a brand-new production line, better facilities for our teams, and now these more sustainable ovens, we’ve been able to transform our home in Leicester and secure its future growth. We’re incredibly proud of all the work that goes into making our iconic snacks right in the heart of the UK, and even more so now we’re doing it in a more sustainable way.”
In addition to introducing new, lower-emission ovens, PepsiCo’s £58 million investment in the Leicester site has also seen the company install a new manufacturing line and upgrade facilities for its 1,192-strong team.
PepsiCo has invested a total of £140 million since 2020 to continue supporting its growth and success in the UK, where it makes some of Britain’s best loved brands across six sites.
