Glacier is investing in its ice-cream manufacturing plants in Italy and Belgium to support its expansion.

The cash injection totals €45m ($51.4m), some of which will be used to install two new production lines in Italy to boost capacity in “high-growth” product segments, according to a company statement issued today (13 July).

The new lines will focus on extruded ice creams and so-called linear moulded ice lollies.

One of the lines will manufacture what Glacier calls spiral lollies and fruit-coated sticks, a move the company said will double its production capacity in those formats.

The second line will expand the group’s water ice operations by increasing production speed and to make lollies featuring layered flavours, it added.

Part of the spending will go towards extra warehousing, greater automation and cooling facility improvements at the company’s plant at Langemark, Belgium.

Just Food has asked Glacier for more precise details on the investment plans.

Glacier said it is also continuing to assess ways to broaden its presence outside its existing markets through “selective acquisitions and partnerships to ensure it is well-positioned to offer a broad range of products in different markets”.

Led by executive director Matt Frost, Glacier has already been active in acquisitions, including Gelato d’Italia, Ysco, Giuntoli and Castel D’ario.

Speaking to Just Food earlier this year, Frost said the company was generating annual revenues of €600m ($685.7m today) with operations across five factories in Europe. It is backed by Davidson Kempner Capital Management and its partner Afendis Capital Management.

Glacier, a private-label producer and co-manufacturer, said it is also investing in portion control with ice-cream bites.

The company said the bites production line will be capable of turning out 50,000 bites per hour, raising annual capacity by 220m bites.

Over the longer term, the manufacturer is also developing a dedicated innovation centre at its Cavriago site in Italy.

The facility is intended to provide a collaborative environment where customers can work with Glacier’s innovation teams to “co-develop, refine and test” new products.

The project is now in its final design phase, with completion scheduled by the end of the year.

The company said the new centre will “accelerate” the pace at which it can launch products. It will include a “multi-sensory kitchen” and an interactive studio”, enabling customers to sample new concepts.