Mars steams up £23m for King's Lynn rice plant

Food manufacturing giant Mars is pouring £23m into its Uncle Ben’s rice division in the UK, investing in a new production line at the company’s plant in King’s Lynn.

The privately-held US company said the expansion, which will be completed early next year, will add 28 new jobs to the factory’s existing headcount of 300.

“We have been manufacturing from this site for over 50 years and continue our commitment to investing and growing the site which manufactures some of the UK's favourite family brands,” said Mars regional president for Western Europe and Russia, Michael Ryan.

The fresh investment comes after the firm put £6m into the plant in 2012, with those additional facilities being officially opened on Friday.