Compass Group UK & Ireland has confirmed plans to open a major food production facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, describing the project as a significant expansion of its manufacturing capacity in the region. The new 10,000 square metre Cuisine Centre is scheduled to begin operations later this year and is expected to produce in excess of 70 million meals a year for public and private sector customers.
Large-scale production on a regenerated brownfield site
The facility will sit within the SmartParc development, a 155‑acre regenerated brownfield site where SEGRO and partners have been assembling logistics and food‑sector operations. Compass says this site forms part of a broader £300m investment to create a modern hub for food manufacturing and distribution.
According to the company, the Cuisine Centre will produce five specialist product ranges — Moreish, Medley, Nurture, Steamplicity and Esteem — offering more than 200 dishes across mains, sides and desserts. Meals will be prepared in varied formats, including multiportion and plated options, designed to serve different catering environments.
Sustainability and community commitments
Compass plans to incorporate an on‑site energy centre to capture and recycle waste heat and to deploy solar generation that will supply about 20% of the facility’s power. The company says these measures will improve energy efficiency and reduce waste in production.
The project is also billed as a social investment: the Cuisine Centre will work with local organisations on skills, training and jobs as part of Compass Group’s broader Social Promise, which aims to support one million people by 2030 through employment and community engagement.
“The new Cuisine Centre is a significant step forward for our business, allowing us to scale up our existing operations through a larger, more advanced facility,”
The quote above is attributed to Charles Brown, interim chief executive of Compass Group UK & Ireland.
- Scale: 10,000m² facility producing over 70 million meals annually.
- Location: SmartParc SEGRO Derby, part of a wider £300m site redevelopment.
- Sustainability: On‑site energy centre and solar generation supplying c.20% of power.
- Community: Skills and training commitments under the company’s Social Promise.
What this means for Derbyshire
The new Cuisine Centre will increase centralised food production capacity in the county and could bolster local supply chains if regional sourcing opportunities are pursued. Compass says centralised production and flexible meal formats will help reduce operational energy use and food waste for client caterers.
While the firm has outlined the facility’s outputs and environmental features, specific details on job numbers, recruitment timelines and the precise start date for production have not been published in the company’s announcement. Local businesses, training providers and councils will be watching for further details as the project progresses.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site area | 10,000 m² |
| Annual meal output | Over 70 million |
| Solar power contribution | c. 20% |
| Development site | SmartParc SEGRO Derby (part of a £300m scheme) |
Further announcements are expected as the facility prepares to open later in the year. Local stakeholders will be seeking clarity on employment opportunities and how Compass intends to work with Derbyshire suppliers and training providers to fulfil its stated community commitments.
