Potato chips manufacturer Bluebird, based in New Zealand, says its parent company PepsiCo has invested over $66 million into the development of its Auckland factory, with a $26m-plus packing machine under construction.
As Aimee Shaw reports for Stuff.co.nz, the Wiri potato chips manufacturer says snacking, and therefore its sales, have increased since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. The most recent accounts on the Company’s Office show Bluebird made just over $4m profit after tax in 2021, on sales revenue of $174.6m.
Bluebird says it spends $34m a year on New Zealand potatoes and corn, and uses about 33,000 tonnes of potatoes.
Bluebird general manager Michelle Cassetari said Bluebird had spent over $40m in the last three years expanding the factory and facilities, and has spent $26.5m on its automated warehouse storage facility that can hold up to 13,500 pallets of chips. That is Bluebird’s biggest project, and expected to be completed later this year.
Source: Stuff. Read the full story here
Photo: It takes just 20 minutes to make potato chips from washing the whole potato to bagging the seasoned chips. Credit Ricky Wilson/Stuff
