Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland is today announcing an investment of £17 / €20 million to expand its production facility in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn. The announcement was made at a reception held in its Lisburn plant with Rt Hon Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris MP and local representatives in attendance.

Speaking at the launch, Rt Hon Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris MP commented: “Today’s announcement and the continued investment by Coca-Cola HBC into its production facility in Lisburn is testament to the great place Northern Ireland is to do business in.

“With over 80 years in the area, it’s really positive to see Coca-Cola HBC’s dedication to innovation and development in Northern Ireland, creating jobs and helping to strengthen the economy.”

It represents the single largest investment since the production facility opened in 2008 and will deliver 35 new permanent roles with recruitment underway. The extension will add an additional 4,597 square metres to the facility, covering manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. Production at the expanded facility is set to begin in August 2023.

Miles Karemacher, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our Knockmore Hill production facility. Coca-Cola HBC has a rich history in Northern Ireland and this extension demonstrates our strong continued commitment to the island of Ireland and to our employees and the communities we serve here. I am incredibly proud of our team in Knockmore Hill and the work they do, acting as a leader in innovation and sustainability across the sector and I am confident that the future is bright for our organisation across the island in the years to come.”

The expansion comes after a competitive tender process where Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland was selected as the strongest location amongst a number of other bottling operators across Europe.

Roger Perrott, Director of C60 Architects said: “We are delighted to be leading the design team for the Expansion of the Coca-Cola HBC facility at Knockmore Hill. Coca-Cola HBC have been a close partner for over 10 years, and our close working relationship has allowed us to drive rapid development of the project and helped us to ensure that the Planning Stage was completed ahead of programme.”