Frozen foods company Nomad Foods has said it is investing in a new potato waffle production line at its Lowestoft site as part of a broader long-term productivity programme.

Owner of brands including Birds Eye and Findus, Nomad Foods has stated that the £2.2 million investment will serve as a “key pillar” in the company’s long-term productivity strategy, announced last year, which it said focuses on increased efficiency, competitiveness and scale across its manufacturing network.

The investment will increase capacity at the Lowestoft factory to approximately 18,250 tonnes, which is equivalent to nearly 45 million potato waffles. The announcement follows other recent investments in the site, including a £12 million outlay in chicken processing and plans for an on-site wind turbine.

Nomad foods said that the capital injection into the site demonstrates its commitment to the UK frozen food sector and to building supply chain resilience across its operations.

“At a time of increasing pressure on global food systems, as well as ongoing cost-of-living challenges for consumers, we continue to invest in our operations.”

Eduardo Bachiega, chief supply officer at Nomad Foods, commented: “This latest investment at our Lowestoft site is testament to our long-term commitment to UK food manufacturing. By increasing our production capacity we’re directly responding to consumer demand for household favourites, such as potato waffles, that are already being manufactured 24/7 at the factory.

“At a time of increasing pressure on global food systems, as well as ongoing cost-of-living challenges for consumers, we continue to invest in our operations ensuring key frozen food categories such as fish, vegetables, chicken and potatoes remain an accessible food choice for families across the UK and Europe.”