Investors get first look at Heather Mills’ ‘Plant-Based Valley’ set to create hundreds of jobs

Local businesses and potential investors have had their first peek at the new VBites Plant-Based Valley in Seaton Delaval today.

Businesswoman and VBites founder Heather Mills and business partner Richard Lanyon welcomed visitors to the Northumberland-based site to share their ambition to create a hub for the plant-based industry in the region.

In addition to manufacturing the brand’s own products, the site will also become home to the VBites Ventures initiative, aiming to support local plant-based startups.

Heather Mills now has a total of four factories in the North, and hopes that the Plant-Based Valley will boost the local economy by creating hundreds of jobs and supporting vegan SMEs.

Heather commented: “I want the North East to be up and running with innovative new ideas and discoveries and ready to deal with the demand for climate-friendly living which without doubt is going to happen.”

The site has already attracted interest from local authorities and organisations, with Northumberland County Council announcing plans for a new rail route connecting VBites to Newcastle as well as a relief road to nearby port Blyth.

At today’s event, potential investors were invited to register their interest in supporting VBites Ventures in a bid to make the base a ‘worldwide centre of excellence for plant-based manufacturing’.

Heather Mills’ business partner Richard Lanyon added: “At Plant Based Valley we already operate the UK’s only 100 per cent plant-based manufacturing facility, providing 55 acres of business and manufacturing space exclusively for plant-based businesses.

“But we also have 10 acres of expansion land which can accommodate 200,000 sq ft of brand-new manufacturing and warehouse space to assist scale up for plant-based manufacturing companies. Our vision is simple, to provide plant-based manufacturing companies a unique platform and manufacturing space to scale up and meet demand.”

“We are striving to create an environment which not only fosters innovation and wellness for employees, creates links with logical agricultural providers to reduce carbon footprints and to improve the carbon emissions of our buildings, but also and mainly to become a worldwide centre of excellence for plant-based manufacturing.”