Nomad Foods has announced a £2.2m investment in a new potato waffle production line at its Lowestoft factory, a move that gives UK frozen food retailers a concrete example of domestic manufacturers scaling capacity for household staples even as cost-of-living pressures squeeze margins across the category.

The new line will lift annual potato waffle capacity to approximately 18,250 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 45 million waffles, helping the company meet growing demand for one of its best-known products at a facility that already runs 24 hours a day.

The waffle line forms part of a wider investment programme at Lowestoft that has recently included £12m for chicken processing and plans for an on-site wind turbine intended to provide long-term, predictable renewable energy costs.

Nomad Foods, headquartered in Woking, UK and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is Europe's largest frozen food company, owning brands including Birds Eye, Iglo, Findus, Ledo and Frikom; its Lowestoft site, operating since 1949, is the largest private sector employer, with around 15 per cent of production exported to other European markets.

Eduardo Bachiega, chief supply officer at Nomad Foods, said the investment reflects long-term commitment to UK food manufacturing, directly responding to demand for household favourites such as potato waffles already made around the clock at the factory. He said amid pressure on global food systems and cost-of-living challenges, the company continues investing to keep key frozen categories accessible for families across the UK and Europe.

The investment reflects a wider push among UK frozen food manufacturers to defend category volumes through flexible, energy-resilient production as cost-of-living pressure shifts demand towards value staples.

The timing tracks continued growth in the category, with the UK frozen food market forecast to expand from $19.4bn in 2025 to more than $36.9bn by 2035, a 6.7 per cent compound annual rate.

For the sector, plans for an on-site wind turbine alongside existing green electricity illustrate how large UK food manufacturers are increasingly self-insulating against energy price volatility rather than relying solely on grid supply.

The wider signal for the sector is that capital investment in established, high-volume product lines remains a low-risk route to growth, particularly at export-relevant sites already supplying multiple European markets.

Source: Food & Beverage Outlook / Future Market Insights