Unilever has announced the completion of a £150m investment in its Port Sunlight site, home to brands including Persil, Comfort, Cif, TRESemmé and Lynx body wash. The investment includes manufacturing upgrades across its home care operations and a new advanced automated distribution centre, which will strengthen Unilever’s UK supply chain, from manufacturing through to delivery to retail customers.
The investment includes high-tech manufacturing upgrades in the site’s Home Care factory, which makes the Persil, Surf and Comfort laundry brands, and a new advanced automated distribution centre, directly connected to Port Sunlight’s three factories. Together, these investments will support the next generation of Persil laundry capsules and strengthen Unilever’s UK supply chain, from manufacturing through to delivery to retail customers.
At Unilever’s laundry capsule facility, new technology will increase laundry capsule production three fold while enabling the manufacture of smaller, more complex capsule formats. This supports the launch of Persil’s new advanced four-chamber capsules which feature new powerful cleaning technologies.
This is a landmark moment for Port Sunlight. The completion of investments in Home Care manufacturing and the opening of a new flagship distribution centre will support the growth of our business and reinforce Port Sunlight’s role as a strategic hub for our UK and European operations.
Marc Woodward, Head, Unilever UK
A new distribution centre also connects directly to the factories on-site and will reduce the requirement for lorries to move goods between the factories and distribution centres in other locations, delivering sustainability and safety benefits. By taking hundreds of lorries off the road each week, it will deliver a significant estimated 27% reduction in primary logistics.
By taking hundreds of lorries off the road each week, it will deliver a significant estimated 27% reduction in primary logistics – the lorries that transport Unilever products from factory to warehouse – saving an associated 827 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. It is powered by 100% renewable energy, with solar panels, heat pumps and solar reflectance painting.
Founded in 1888 by William Lever, Port Sunlight remains a key UK hub for Unilever, combining advanced manufacturing and R&D, with around 2,000 employees across the site.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Our region has a proud industrial heritage, and Unilever has been part of that story for generations – supporting thousands of jobs and helping to put the Liverpool City Region on the map as a centre for manufacturing and innovation.
“This investment is a strong vote of confidence in our region as a place where global businesses can grow, innovate and create opportunity. It will help support high-quality jobs, apprenticeships and skills for local people, while strengthening our position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and R&D.
“Just as importantly, this new facility shows how economic growth and sustainability can go hand in hand. By cutting hundreds of lorry journeys from our roads each week, Unilever is supporting our target to reach net zero by 2035, improve air quality for local people, and support ambitions for a cleaner, greener city region.”
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