Nestlé’s new YouTube series “Amazing Machines” kicks off with a behind the scenes look at one of the UK’s most iconic Christmas treats – Quality Street.
At the heart of Nestlé’s Halifax factory is a bespoke machine capable of wrapping up to 750 sweets per minute, helping to produce up to 12 million Quality Street sweets every single day.
Amazing Machines is a four-part series showcasing the innovative machines behind some of Nestlé’s most famous products.
Nestlé's new YouTube series "Amazing Machines" offers a unique glimpse into how one of Britain’s most iconic festive treats comes to life.
Inside Nestlé’s historic 116 year-old Halifax factory, which has been producing Quality Street for nearly 90 years, sits a remarkable wrapping machine. Operating at incredible speed and precision, it twists and seals up to 750 Quality Street sweets every minute, the finishing touch that has become synonymous with Christmas for generations.
Every Purple One, Toffee Penny and Green Triangle begins its journey here in Halifax, using chocolate from Nestlé’s York factory before being transformed into the assortment loved across the UK.
As the countdown to Christmas snowballs, Nestlé’s Halifax factory runs at full festive pace, producing up to 12 million Quality Street sweets every single day – around 500 tonnes each week in the run up to Christmas.
Engineering innovation meets British heritage
Designed specifically for the Halifax site, the bespoke machine features three rotating wheels working in perfect harmony to wrap 750 Quality Street sweets every minute. It’s a striking example of how heritage and cutting-edge engineering combine to deliver a product that has been part of British Christmas celebrations for almost nine decades.
This remarkable piece of machinery is the focus of the first episode of "Amazing Machines", shining a light on the engineering and ingenuity behind one of Britain’s most recognisable Christmas staples.
Simon Billington, Head of Technical & Production at Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “Every Christmas, this machine helps us deliver millions of Quality Street sweets to retailers and households across the UK, operating at a scale that reflects both the heritage of the brand and the capability of our Halifax team.
“We’re proud to share this part of the Quality Street story through the Amazing Machines series, giving people a closer look at the innovation behind one of Britain’s most-loved festive traditions.
“The Halifax factory is a key part of Nestlé’s UK manufacturing footprint, supporting skilled employment and providing long-term career opportunities in the region. As we continue to evolve and invest in our operations and our people, Halifax remains central to how we deliver for consumers at Christmas and beyond.”
In a category first, in 2022 Quality Street moved to recyclable paper packaging for its twist-wrapped sweets. By replacing the double layer of foil and cellulose with a paper wrap, Quality Street removed almost two billion pieces of packaging material from the brand's supply chain.
he Halifax factory is one of Yorkshire’s largest food manufacturing sites and a major employer in the region. It employs more than 550 people, including around 20 apprentices and graduates, helping develop the next generation of engineers and technicians and offering people of all backgrounds the opportunity to build long-term careers in manufacturing. Beyond direct employment, the factory works with more than 140 suppliers in and around West Yorkshire, whilst also investing in community initiatives, such as education and STEM outreach in schools, charity partnerships and volunteering.
Since 1936, Nestlé’s Halifax factory has been home to Quality Street, created by the Mackintosh family. Today, Quality Street is still made in the same factory where it all began, alongside other beloved Nestlé brands, After Eight, Rolo, Munchies and Matchmakers. Nestlé has invested more than £43 million in the factory over the past decade.
Amazing Machines is a four-part YouTube Series hosted by inventor and engineer, Ruth Amos, revealing the behind the scenes of some of Nestlé’s most important machines. Episode one explores the machines behind Quality Street at Halifax, with future episodes showcasing the innovative machines at Nestlé’s Distribution Centre in the East Midlands, Nestlé’s Dalston factory and Buxton factory in the new year.
Learn more about British-made Nestlé products at www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/britain
Read more about Nestlé’s approach to plastics and packaging at www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/sustainability/plastics-packaging
