In honour of 100 years of food production at its Wisbech factory, UK leading food and drink company Princes Group today welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to commemorate the occasion.
Her Royal Highness joined employees and members of the community earlier today in unveiling a plaque, marking the heritage of canning in the town, followed by speeches from key members of the business.
This milestone marks a significant day for Princes Group, recognising the continued legacy of the Wisbech factory, which began in 1925 when Samuel Smedley pioneered canned fruit production in the UK. Following this period, the factory, known as the Smedley’s, has supported generations of local families with employment and growth.
Today, Princes is proud to maintain its deep-rooted ties with the community, producing over one billion cans of branded and own-brand food annually across Wisbech and its sister factory in Long Sutton.
The Royal Visit brought together community leaders, including His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Mrs. Julie Spence, who formally greeted Her Royal Highness.
Princes representatives were also present, including CEO of Princes, Simon Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer of Princes, Mr Giuseppe Mastrolia, Chief Operating Officer of the Food and Drink Federation, Nick Pink, and General Manager of the Wisbech factory, Paul Hendrie.
Simon Harrison, CEO at Princes Group, said, “Today marks a huge milestone for Princes and the Wisbech community. Her Royal Highness’s visit affirms the important role the Wisbech factory has played in shaping the local community and cultural heritage over the past century. As we commemorate 100 years of food production, we also reaffirm our dedication to food production, sustainability and innovation, ensuring that the legacy of this factory continues to thrive for future generations.”
The commemoration of the Wisbech centenary was first celebrated in July 2025, when the factory launched a creative competition for local school children to design can labels. The three winners of the competition were previously invited for a factory tour and had their designs printed on Princes canned food.
