UK | Compass Group UK & Ireland has announced a major investment in the future of British food production with the launch of its new Cuisine Centre in Derbyshire.
Opening in late 2026, the state‑of‑the‑art facility will produce over 70 million nutritious meals a year across the public and private sectors.
Spanning ten thousand square metres, the new Cuisine Centre will be located at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, a GBP 300m investment to create an innovative 155‑acre regenerated brownfield food manufacturing and distribution site.
The facility will provide increased capacity, modern production capabilities and enhanced sustainability credentials. An innovative on‑site energy centre will recycle waste heat to reduce energy consumption, while the first tranche of solar generation will supply c.20 percent of the facility’s power.
The Cuisine Centre will produce five specialist ranges, each freshly made on site and designed to meet specific needs: Moreish, Medley, Nurture, Steamplicity, and Esteem. Each meal showcases ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers, adhering to stringent standards for food safety, quality, and responsible sourcing.
Alongside its established supplier network, Cuisine Centre has aimed to explore opportunities to increase regional sourcing as part of the facility’s opening, promoting community engagement and championing British Food.
The range includes over 200 dishes across mains, sides and desserts, all created in partnership with a team of chefs and dietitians to ensure great taste, quality and nutritional value.
Each range has been tailored to the unique needs of each audience, helping kitchens create exciting menus for varied audiences and supporting robust allergen control measures.
Centralised production and flexible meal formats, such as multi-portion or plated, also improve operational efficiency, reducing preparation time, energy use, and food waste for catering teams.
This investment represents a major milestone in Compass’ commitment to transforming large-scale food production and delivering better meals for people and the planet nationwide. As part of this focus, the Cuisine Centre will work with the local community to deliver skills, training, and development.
The Cuisine Centre has committed to responsible, ethical sourcing and will play a key role in supporting Compass Group UK & Ireland’s ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
It will also help to deliver SmartParc SEGRO Derby’s wider sustainability goals, alongside major improvements in water conservation, waste reduction, and transport and packaging efficiency.
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