Natures Way Foods has officially opened its new £15m prepared fruit and salad plant in a bid to treble capacity.

Located on an old Second World War airbase at RAF Merston in West Sussex, the 7,500 sq m factory would allow the company to manufacture ‘high risk’ protein-based products, as well as preparing fruit and salad.

The facility includes a number of environmental innovations, such as a roof drainage system to capture rain water and channel it into neighbouring wildlife ponds.

“The opportunities now available to innovate with both products and processes are extremely exciting,” said Natures Way’s Gary Kilhams.