Food maker Bakkavor Salads to create 295 jobs in Bo'ness

M&S food is available in Costa Coffee shops under a new partnership

A salads and snack maker has announced plans to create 295 jobs in Bo'ness.

The move by Bakkavor Salads follows a new partnership between long-standing customer M&S and Costa Coffee.

The new jobs - which will be a mixture of full-time and part-time roles - will bring the total workforce at Bo'ness to nearly 1,400.

Under the deal with M&S, Bakkavor will produce a range of fresh prepared food, including tomato pasta salads, chicken salads and apple and peanut dippers.

The food will be available in Costa Coffee stores which stock M&S products under a collaborative arrangement.

Bakkavor Salads Bo'ness specialises in making premium salad and vegetable products for the UK's largest grocery retailers, and has been a major employer in the area for more than 40 years.

Bakkavor Salads already employs nearly 1,100 staff at its factory in Bo'ness

General manager Kirk Connor said: "For many people, returning back to the workplace after Covid restrictions will be a bit of a shock, with people facing busy routines and looking for more convenience.

"We're delighted to be working with M&S and Costa Coffee to brighten the return to work with a range of fresh, healthy and tasty meal options."

The Bakkavor group's UK customers include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. With headquarters in London, the group has more than 20,000 employees and operates 23 factories in the UK, five in the US and nine in China.