The state‑of‑the‑art Cuisine Centre will open in late 2026 at the SmartParc SEGRO Derby, a £300m 155‑acre regenerated brownfield food manufacturing and distribution site.
Compass said the investment represents a “major milestone” in its commitment to transform large-scale food production.
According to Compass the facility, which will supply both public and private sector, will provide increased capacity, modern production capabilities and enhanced sustainability credentials.
There will be centralised production and flexible meal formats such as multiportion or plated. The factory will also improve operational efficiency, reducing preparation time, energy usage and food waste for catering teams, the company said.
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.
The ranges include over 200 dishes across mains, sides and desserts, all created in partnership between a team of chefs and dietitians.
The Cuisine Centre also aims to explore opportunities to increase regional sourcing and champion British Food.
“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 scale and capability of the new facility brings more production in-house, strengthening supply continuity, delivering greater supply chain resilience, and enhancing our ability to deliver high‑quality, nutritious meals produced responsibly and at scale,” said Charles Brown, Interim CEO, Compass Group UK & Ireland.
“We are a large and diverse business that has the dexterity to meet specific market demands within the sectors we operate. This facility meets a specific need case, for delivering consistent, quality, nutritious meals in a safe and controlled environment, reducing allergen risks, as well as giving time back to kitchen teams.”
Jackie Wild, SmartParc SEGRO Derby, said: “The development brings advanced food production, shared infrastructure and lower-carbon operational benefits together on a regenerated brownfield site, giving businesses the space and flexibility to modernise how they produce food.”
The Cuisine Centre will play a key role in supporting Compass Group UK & Ireland’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040.