In the second positive announcement for Nottingham-based manufacturing in the last week Southglade Food Park has issued a statement applauding the recent expansion of Dovedale Foods.
In other encouraging news, Nottingham based pharmaceuticals research and manufacturing company, Molecular Profiles is to receive £1.6 million from the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF), creating 62 jobs.
The expansion of Dovedale Foods means that the successful incubator premises for Nottingham food and drink companies is once again full to capacity and there is a long list of firms interested in securing premises on the site.
Fiona Anderson, managing director of The Food and Drink Forum, said: “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.
“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.
Dovedale Foods, the gluten-free, dairy-free and additive-free cooking sauces and condiments company which manufactures the brand Sauces of Choice and has moved into one of the smallest-sized units on the park.
Ian Noakes, a company director at Dovedale, commented: “The unit is purpose-built and perfect for small companies such as ourselves. The proximity to The Food and Drink Forum and the facilities in the Business Centre that we can tap into are also extremely useful.”
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
The Forum’s food technical manager Richard Wigley added: “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. We are very pleased to welcome a new company onto the park and wish them well for the future.”
