Multi-million-pound food and drink centre fast becoming an “innovation powerhouse”

A multi-million-pound food and drink innovation centre is fulfilling ambitions to become a “powerhouse of support” to the food and drink industry.

The Food Works has proved a game changer for over 130 food and drink brands with established and new businesses all benefiting from the use of outstanding facilities and resources.

The Food and Drink Forum, which operates the facility on behalf of North Somerset Council, is now inviting more people to get in touch if they have a concept that could become the next shooting star of the food and drink industry, saying it can help turn good ideas into viable and scalable propositions.

The only centre of its kind in the south west, The Food WorksSW is based in the heart of the Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area, less than 30 minutes from Bristol, and is in close proximity to Junction 21 of the M5 motorway.

It has “state-of-the-art” facilities including five product development kitchens which are available for flexible short-term contract hire for food and drink businesses of all sizes to test, develop and manufacture their products - prices start from just £96.90 per day (inc VAT).

A team of food industry experts are on hand to help businesses navigate their way through a range of food disciplines, from new product development, and quality assurance hygiene, to food safety and efficiency. The Food Works provides a solution to help transform concepts into saleable and profitable products.

Business support begins with a free one-hour consultation with industry expert Zoe Plant, new product development and innovation manager, who commented: “We encourage everyone to come along and talk to us. We work closely with businesses, tailoring our support to their needs, and making sure their concepts are commercially viable.”

Gelato, salsa, kefir water, vegan cheese, deli items, brownies, chilli sauces, high protein cookies, frozen ready meals and curry dishes are among the products which have been developed at The Food Works.

Established brands including Hullabaloos Drinks, Trethowan Brothers, Butcombe Brewery, Hoots Sauce, Sunbird Kitchen and the Field Doctor have all benefited from using the centre’s facilities and support. Many chefs also regularly use the venue to develop their menus.

Jasper Prickett, head development chef at Butcombe Brewery and the Liberation Group, added: “Having this facility on hand is a major benefit for us, not just as a place for me to create new dishes and be able to work out their cost - I can also have up to 120 people come in. Added to that the location, geographically, works very well for us.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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