PepsiCo UK moves staff to town's landmark complex

PepsiCo UK has moved its Reading base and hundreds of employees to a £850m town centre development.

The company, which makes Walkers, Quaker and Doritos products, now occupies two floors of One Station Hill after moving from South Oak Way in Green Park, on the outskirts of the Berkshire town.

It said it has "blended formal and informal spaces to foster collaboration and connection" for about 650 employees opposite the train station.

Jason Richards, PepsiCo UK & Ireland's general manager, said the move marked an "exciting new chapter… while reaffirming our commitment to Reading as our longstanding UK home."

The mixed-use Station Hill development was officially opened in June last year, nearly two years after a worker at the construction site was rescued by crane operator Glen Edwards when a fire broke out.

An investigation into the blaze said the construction industry had shared "lessons learned" from the incident "to prevent future occurrences".

Richards said: "The extensive modern facilities, both on the floors we're now occupying and throughout the building, have enhanced the whole office experience for our colleagues and inspired more collaborative ways of working."

Other tenants using the building include PwC UK and Centrica.