Committed to its role as a nation builder, the business welcomed BEE partner Khumo Bathong Strategic Investments (KBSI) in March 2006. Having acquired a significant stake in Cerebos Ltd, they provided both equity capital & strategic input that has proven to be crucial in securing an exciting new venture. It also hopes to make Teesside Airport Net Zero in its operations by 2030 - which would be the first of its kind in the UK - and to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points in the Tees Valley by 200% by 2025. The company of Cerebos Salt Co Ltd (UK) was incorporated by George Weddell, later the Managing Director. Blue hydrogen converts natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, with the CO2 produced set to be captured and taken for subsea storage via the Northern Endurance Partnership carbon capture, utilisation and storage project. Originally a wholly-owned subsidiary of RHM Ltd UK, the 1980s saw its acquisition by AngloVaal Industries (through the subsidiary now known as National Brands Limited).

Cerebos acquired a number of consumer food brands in Britain, including Sharwood’s, Saxa salt, Paxo stuffing, Scott’s Porage Oats and Atora suet. The Tales of Wych and Water is derived from the Canal and Salt Town Middlewich project aimed at celebrating the Canal and Salt heritage of the town, concentrating on the historic changes and relationship between the canal, the salt industries and the community. bp is currently developing proposals for H2Teesside. As part of this, we are undertaking surveys to better understand the local area, to inform the proposed design and environmental assessments. The locations of these engineering feasibility and environmental surveys are not indicative of the land needed for the construction of the scheme. The salt crystals form or ‘set’ on the surface of the brine before sinking to the bottom of the pan. The canal system around Middlewich has over the past 150 years been of major importance in transporting coal, dairy products and, of course salt. Although many of these industries have now either gone or goods are moved by road freight, canals have been given a new lease of life in the form of leisure and Middlewich is at the forefront of this new revolution. Investment from the leisure industry and the commitment of bodies such as British Waterways has reignited a new wave of canal users. Allied to this growing industry is a renewed interest in the heritage value of the canal system and this has been taken up with vigour by groups such as Middlewich Vision and the Middlewich Heritage Society.Agreement with Staveley Industries Ltd to merge their manufacturing and bulk vacuum salt interests [12] which was incorporated in new private company British Salt Ltd, one-quarter owned by Cerebos. A new salt works would be constructed in the Sandbach-Middlewich area. The advances and successes of RHM Middlewich live on in our dedicated archive, with thanks to the head office and many of the staff, past and present, especially Helen Ireland and Dennis Holdcroft for their input Once our proposals have been developed, a public consultation will be undertaken, where all community members will have the chance to review project proposals and have their say. In March 2021, bp announced plans to create the UK's largest 'blue' hydrogen plant - called H2 Teesside - hoping to develop a 'clean' hydrogen industrial cluster as well as bring a vast number of jobs to the region. Cerebos enjoyed a strong reputation with retailers, and employed an efficient computer-controlled distribution network, with 16 depots. However its profits were stagnating. Salt suffered from low growth, and many of its other product lines, such as porridge, were declining.

Acquired the Greatham Salt and Brine Works near Hartlepool; the HQ of the business was moved there.In this section we look at how the old canal and salt works are still with us and where you can still see evidence of those times past. As more information becomes available it will be added and we are starting with… A former salt works is being eyed to be used as part of of a major hydrogen project, Teesside Live can reveal.

The number of saltworks operating in any one period was reduced to around five, and these often changed hands. In fact the same locations were largely reused over several centuries. Various grades of salt were produced, much of it for preserving food, but it was also used in tanning, dying and clothing manufacture. In the 19th and 20th centuries, chemical uses became more important, such as production of ammonia, alkali and bleach. Social conditions for the work force were hard, and the impact of the salt and chemical works on the local environment at Middlewich resulted in great pollution and health problems. c1908 The Cerebos salt company invented the Bisto gravy powder product (a mixture of salt, flavourings and colourings), at its salt factory. Net Zero Teesside, which has been previously named as the UK's leading carbon capture scheme by the Government, is part of the East Coast Cluster. This is aiming to remove nearly 50% of all UK industrial CO2 emissions by 2040.

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H2Teesside is aiming to begin production in 2027, targeting 1GW of hydrogen production by 2030. With this, it would generate and send for storage up to two million tonnes of CO2 per year. Middlewich has been famous for the production of salt since Roman times, an industry which probably started here during the Iron Age. The brine pits and saltworks were part of the settlement along King Street, but during the medieval period most works were located at Newton. The social upliftment of all Cerebos employees and previously disadvantaged individuals in the Eastern and Western Cape is also a key focus to the organization. The company encourages an innovative culture and behaves like a family loyally supporting their employees and it’s strong brands. The working environment is dynamic and empowered and each Cerebos employee is nurtured and given the opportunity to make a difference. Cerebos also has an educational fund administered by employees and Management. If the development is successful H2Teesside could play an important role in the delivery of the UK’s net zero targets. It aims to deliver close to 10% of the UK’s hydrogen target of 10GW by 2030, upon reaching its planned expansion of up to 1.2GWth in the same year." bp also announced plans to bring a second hydrogen production facility to the area - called HyGreen Teesside - in late 2021, which is targeting around 60MWe of green hydrogen production by 2025. Green hydrogen is generated by renewable energy, therefore leading to even fewer carbon emissions when it is made.

Cerebos salt is sold in Western Europe (including France where it is spelt Cérébos), Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Australian and New Zealand operations were part of Cerebos Pacific, and now owned by Kraft Heinz which acquired most of its assets from Suntory Holdings in 2018, and includes the well known local brands: The Bisto Kids are now in their new home in Middlewich Library and they are well worth seeing, the last remains of over 100 years of salt and food production. William Henry Collins (1873 – 1947) had entered the company as a salt loader in 1893. He worked his way up to sales manager of the London business. He was appointed chairman and managing director of Cerebos in 1918. Much of the subsequent growth of the business was credited to Collins.

The salt making process starts with the brine being pumped up from underground brine streams; in the case of Murgatroyds, this was stored in the Brine Cistern above the Railway Wagon Repair Shop. Intensive tests were conducted on SALTWELL as a functional ingredient and suitable replacement for salt. Salt is mostly used in meat products for the water retention capacity, shelf life and taste. The results of a sensory IPSOS Salt functionality analysis test performed by a trained panel, show no significant difference in sensory properties between hamburgers made with SALTWELL and regular salt. Health experts agree that we consume too much salt in our diets. With more than 75% of sodium coming from processed food, Cerebos along with their partners Salinity, is proud to deliver a solution to market that will significantly reduce sodium in food manufacturers’ products while still delivering great taste. In 2016, the Saline Cérébos , rich in tradition, celebrated its 150th anniversary with numerous campaigns both for employees and for the public. This is just one of many commitments by the firm, alongside the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture, utilisation and storage scheme and HyGreen Teesside – its green hydrogen scheme. This is all marking us out as the go-to place for innovation in the hydrogen sector, while creating good-quality, well-paid jobs in the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future that our local people deserve.”