Barilla opens largest bread factory in France

(AGI) Milan, June 15 - Barilla inaugurated its new "Malterie"factory on Monday, the largest production site of prepackagedbaked goods in France. Barilla invested 30 million euros in thesite, located in France's central Chateauroux area, as part ofits special 47 million euro investment plans for the 2014-2016period with goal of strengthening the French "Harrys" brand,which it bought in 2003. The expansion and modernisation of theMalterie facility constitutes Barilla's largest investment inFrance, the group said in a statement. The new, 43,000 squaremetre factory was completed in 18 months and has eightproduction lines. Barilla has invested some 170 million eurosin France since its acquisition of Harrys in 2003. "Theseinvestments fall within the group's strategy, which is aimed atmaking Barilla and Harrys products the number one consumerchoice," said the managing director of Barilla-France, MiloudBenaouda. "Investing allows us to develop better industrialtools and ensure continuity on an employment level in ourfacilities," he added. (AGI). .