European Freeze Dry has invested more than £1.5 million in its manufacturing sites in the UK and Denmark following a growth in sales for its ingredients and ready-made meals.

A third cookpot has now been installed in the freeze-dried food producer’s manufacturing facility at Preston, Lancashire, in addition to a new rotary packer, increasing production levels at the UK facility. At Kirke Hyllinge in Denmark, a new freeze dryer has been added to the manufacturing capacity to help meet higher demand.

The new investment will allow European Freeze Dry to continue to meet growing demand for nutritious long-life ingredients, commission drying services and ready meals.

“We’ve been experiencing unprecedented demand for our ingredients. With meals having a shelf life of up to 25 years in tins and seven years in pouches, our freeze dried options lend themselves to crises such as the pandemic,” said Diana Morris, Country Manager for European Freeze Dry.

“We’ve seen a dramatic rise in demand from the public and private sector as well as individual consumers who want tasty food which offers a longer shelf life, reduced waste and a lighter product for storage and transport.

“Freeze dried food lends itself to extreme situations in all kinds of circumstances from sustaining nutrition in remote locations to preparing for an extended period indoors. We are responding to different demands and resourcing our operations to satisfy existing and new customers in the public and private sectors.”