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Welcome to Wisbech- The English Market Town tasked with feeding Europe's pets

Martin Agger

A film showcasing Wisbech, the location of one of Nestlé Purina Petcare’s factories, has been released this week as part of a new series profiling the UK communities where Nestlé has a presence.

Nestlé Purina’s Wisbech site originally started life as a jam factory, and is now one of the largest employers in the area.

More than 600 people currently work at the factory and there are more than 20 different nationalities working together to produce some of the UK and Europe’s best-selling pet food brands, including Felix, Winalot, Gourmet, Bakers and Friskies.

In addition to the main site, just a mile away, more than 300 DHL employees work for Nestlé Purina Wisbech in the multi-packing facility. Here, the products produced at the factory are prepared for transportation around the UK and further afield into Europe.

In the film, Martin Agger, Logistics Manager at Nestlé Purina Wisbech, takes viewers on a guided tour of the town – often called the ‘capital of the fens’ – and the local area.

During the three minute video, Martin points out landmarks like the magnificent 18th century Peckover House, now owned by the National Trust, and the Wisbech and Fenland Museum – one of the oldest museums in the UK.

Nestlé Purina Wisbech is not only a large local employer, it is also dedicated to making a positive difference in the local community, which comes across in the film. The factory continues to support several different projects including the Fenland Business Awards, Wisbech Reads Festival, the Read to Succeed Campaign and local dog shows.

Before Nestlé Purina took over operating the plant in 1998 it was owned by Spillers Pet Foods. One of the features of the factory shown in the video, which local residents might not be aware of, are three bronze war memorials that were installed outside of the factory reception area in 2014. They commemorate members of the armed forces and civilians from Spillers who died during World War 1 and World War 2.

Martin Agger said: “We’re very proud of our heritage in the town and to be a part of the Wisbech community.”

“We come to work each day to make great products that delight pets and owners throughout the UK and Europe and we’re able to provide essential employment in the region.”

“But, above and beyond this, we’re able to focus on having a positive impact on our local communities by supporting a range of fantastic local projects. It’s a fundamental part of our culture here and makes this a great place to work.”

Watch the Nestlé Purina Wisbech Community film:



Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, is shining a light on its UK communities where it has a presence – see all the films in the ‘Nestlé Communities’ series.