Developed by Well-Fed with investment support from the Welsh Government, the National Lottery Community Fund and Moondance Foundation, the new facility marks a major step forward for sustainable food production in Wales and will enable the organisation to expand its production of healthy and affordable meals, while pioneering new approaches to reducing food waste and increasing food resilience.
The food production facility is expected to become the largest operation of its kind in the UK. It will increase the production and distribution of nutritious ready meals made using surplus food sourced from across the region, helping to tackle food waste while supporting communities across North Wales.
The investment will also strengthen local supply chains, support economic growth and create a platform for future expansion. Well-Fed currently employs 24 people, including 18 local employees who were previously unemployed, and the expanded facility will provide opportunities for further growth and development.
Robbie Davison, Director at Well-Fed, said: "This new facility represents a major investment in the future of Well-Fed and creates the capacity we need to grow, innovate and reach more communities across Wales.
"As demand continues to increase, the new site will enable us to expand production, create employment opportunities and develop new ways of turning surplus food into healthy, affordable meals. We're proud to be showing how innovation in the food sector can deliver economic growth, environmental benefits and positive social impact."
The site's innovative approach combines food manufacturing with circular economy principles, helping to repurpose surplus ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. The operation is expected to process up to 500 tonnes of surplus food annually, supported by new technologies and systems designed to improve efficiency and sustainability.
The facility is also supporting efforts to reduce environmental impact through initiatives including the introduction of reusable metal trays, which are expected to replace up to 160,000 single-use plastic trays over the next two years.
Established in 2019, Well-Fed has supplied more than one million fresh meals to households facing food insecurity. The organisation offers more than 140 nutritionally assessed meal options and operates one of the UK's only large-scale ready meal services free from ultra-processed ingredients.
Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS, who officially opened the new food production facility, said,"Wales has a proud food and drink industry, with businesses across the country driving innovation, creating jobs and making a valuable contribution to our economy.
"This investment by Well-Fed demonstrates how Welsh food businesses can combine commercial growth with environmental responsibility and community benefit. This new facility will help strengthen food production capacity in North Wales, support employment opportunities and showcase the innovative approaches being developed here in Wales to tackle some of the challenges facing our food system.
"Supporting businesses to grow, innovate and invest in sustainable solutions is central to our ambitions for the Welsh food and drink sector, and I am delighted to see this impressive new facility officially open."