A national catering and hospitality company has confirmed plans to open a large food production centre in Derby that it says will produce more than 70 million meals a year. The 10,000‑square metre facility — described as a "Cuisine Centre" — will be based at SmartParc SEGRO Derby in Spondon and is due to open in late 2026.
What the new centre will do
Compass Group said the site will manufacture and distribute meals to institutions including schools, hospitals and workplaces. The company has developed five specialist product ranges for the centre: Moreish, Medley, Nurture, Steamplicity and Esteem, covering mains, sides and desserts. More than 200 menu options have been created with input from chefs and dietitians and menus can be adapted to different client needs.
- Location: SmartParc SEGRO Derby, Spondon (brownfield redevelopment)
- Size: 10,000 sq m
- Output: capacity to produce in excess of 70 million meals per year
- Markets: schools, hospitals and workplace catering
Investment and local impact
The site sits within the wider SmartParc SEGRO Derby development, a reported £300m regeneration project on previously developed land that aims to create a substantial food manufacturing and logistics campus. Compass Group said bringing production into a single, larger facility will strengthen supply continuity and reduce allergen risks by operating in a controlled environment.
"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," said Charles Brown, interim CEO at Compass Group UK & Ireland.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Facility size | 10,000 sq m |
| Projected annual meals | 70 million+ |
| Main customers | Schools, hospitals, workplaces |
Representatives of SmartParc SEGRO Derby welcomed the development as the kind of investment the scheme was designed to attract, highlighting potential benefits from shared infrastructure and lower‑carbon operations. The centre is described by the site operator as an example of modernising food production on a regenerated brownfield site.
Practical considerations and next steps
Compass Group indicated the centre will bring more production in‑house and increase resilience across its supply chain. The company framed the project as improving consistency and safety in meal production while offering kitchen teams time savings. A specific opening window was given as late 2026; detailed information on employment numbers, planning timetables or construction milestones has not been published in the statement.
The development will be one to watch locally for its potential to change food manufacturing capacity in Derbyshire and for its impact on the Spondon area as regeneration continues.
Reporting from Derby.
