A waiting list of firms interested in securing premises on the site remains, said Fiona Anderson, managing director of The Food and Drink Forum which is based at the business park in Gala Way.
“Since opening in 2005, Southglade Food Park has been popular with food and drink firms, and we are delighted to welcome the latest tenant and to hear of the expansion plans of an existing tenant,” said Fiona Anderson.
“Southglade was designed to provide different-sized high-grade food manufacturing premises for firms at different stages of development, with the opportunity for companies to move into larger units as they grow.
“That vision has turned into reality with the business park proving popular with food and drink companies due to the quality of the premises, the presence of the on-site business centre, the food industry experienced support from The Food and Drink Forum, its convenient location, and the fact that the park is dedicated to firms all working in the same sector.
“I am very pleased to see that Southglade Food Park is full once more, and it is heartening to hear that other companies are keen to move in when suitable premises become available.”
Distributor TransFresh, which recently moved off the site to larger premises in Wigwam Lane, Hucknall, is the perfect example of how Southglade Food Park was designed to work, she said.
“The firm moved into an incubator unit at Southglade in early 2007. When it grew, it took additional space. Now fully established, TransFresh has moved to its own larger premises elsewhere – freeing up space for new and growing businesses to move in to Southglade,” said Fiona.
The new tenant of Southglade Food Park is gluten-free, dairy-free and additive-free cooking sauces and condiments company Dovedale Foods, which manufactures the brand Sauces of Choice and which has moved into one of the smallest-sized units on the park – 433 sq m premises known as nursery units. The firm, run by directors Ian Noakes and his partner Leah Montgomery, and Ian’s mother Ann Noakes, supplies to farm shops, delis and direct to the public via its website www.saucesofchoice.co.uk
“The unit is purpose-built and perfect for small companies such as ourselves,” said Ian. “The proximity to The Food and Drink Forum and the facilities in the Business Centre that we can tap into are also extremely useful.”
Existing Southglade Food Park tenant luxury baker Cake and Biscuits LLP has also taken a nursery unit to accommodate expansion plans.
“The moves show that Southglade Food Park is operating just as it was planned, with firms occupying different sized units as they grow and develop,” said The Forum’s Food Technical Manager Richard Wigley. “We are very pleased to welcome a new company onto the park, and to help Cake and Biscuits LLP with their development, and wish them well for the future.”
When it opened, the £4.7 million Southglade Food Park was the first business park of its kind in the UK dedicated to food and drink production and containing an on-site business centre offering support to firms.
The build and first three years of operation were funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Nottingham City Council. Since then the park has been self sustaining.
At the heart of the food park community is a Business Support Centre run by The Food and Drink Forum, which maintains an on-site presence and manages the park services. It features meeting rooms, a new product development kitchen and other facilities for firms both on and off the park. Tenancies are managed by Nottingham City Council.
There are plans to expand Southglade Food Park to offer additional units when funds become available.
www.southglade.co.uk
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