FRANCE: Italian food group Barilla opens largest bakery site in France | Progresiv
Italian food group Barilla has opened the largest pre-packed bakery production site - for soft bread and viennese pastries - in France. The extension and modernisation of the La Malterie facility in Châteauroux (30 million euros) represents Barilla’s most important investment in France since the acquisition of family bakery business Harry's in 2003. With the 12,000 m2 extension, the new 43 000 m2 site will host eight production lines. 
The first line of the new Malterie will increase productivity, thus allowing a 15 per cent decrease in waste, CO2 emissions and water consumption.
The 2014-2016 investment program worth 47 million euros also includes the building of a new crustless soft bread production line at the Plaine de l’Ain facility (near Lyon), inaugurated in June 2014. It also involves new equipment for the production sites of Valenciennes and Gauchy.
Since acquiring Harry's, Barilla has invested an estimated 170 million euros in the company, enabling it to become leader on the pre-packed bakery market, with a five per cent growth as of May 2015. (www.esmmagazine.com)
