Apetito's £100m factory expansion approved

A £100m food manufacturing facility will be expanded in a town after planning permission was approved.

Apetito currently hires 670 people at its base in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, where employees make prepared meals for hospitals, care homes, education providers and care services.

Its new expansion, approved by Wiltshire Council this week, will "ease pressure" on current operations, the company said.

Councillor Helen Belcher, cabinet member for economic development, said: "This is great news for Trowbridge as it represents a significant investment into the town, securing existing jobs, regenerating a long-established employment site and creating new employment opportunities in the process."

The new facility, known as Kitchen West, will be located on the Canal Road Industrial Estate.

Apetito said it would create new jobs but the company has not specified how many yet.

The development would, the firm said, "ease pressure on current capacity and support the company's long‑term expansion plans".

The construction of the Kitchen West development is due to begin within months.

Apetito applied for planning permission in July 2025.

CEO Ian Stone said the approval was "an important milestone" for the company.

"We are proud to be a significant employer in the local area and Kitchen West represents an investment in our people and the long-term future of Apetito," he said.

Apetito is the largest private employer in Trowbridge with about 670 of its 2,000 UK employees based in the town.

It began life in 1928 as Waldens Wiltshire Foods and was taken over by German firm Apetito in 1996.

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