International recipe box and meal kit delivery company HelloFresh is set to become the first customer at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, the 1.85m sq ft, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus, after agreeing to lease a 118,000 sq ft unit for the preparation and distribution of their well-known and hugely popular meal kit boxes.
SEGRO and SmartParc have secured the maiden customer less than six months after announcing the formation of a partnership to create a new asset class dedicated to ‘state of the art’ food manufacturing and distribution in Derby (Spondon), paving the way for the food industry to collaborate to meet the challenges of sustainable production whilst addressing the need for efficient direct routes to consumers.
With SEGRO as the site developer and owner and SmartParc providing the onsite managed services, together they will support the food and drink sector in its efforts to increase production efficiency and drive reduced operational costs through collaborative working.
Laurent Guillemain, UK CEO at HelloFresh, said: “We are really excited to be opening this new distribution centre in Derby and getting to know the local community. Hundreds of operation, distribution, and management jobs will be made available, and our plan is to further grow our Derby presence, offering even more local jobs in the future.
“It’s also fantastic to be one of the first major brands to join SmartParc. The campus sets a precedent for the best in sustainable design and collaboration. Their ethos of bringing people and businesses together to meet the challenges of sustainable food production, while providing opportunities for the local area, align perfectly with our own values and we’re excited to join this community”.
Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics at SEGRO, said: “The pace at which we have been able to secure our first customer, hot on the heels of establishing our partnership with SmartParc, demonstrates there is good occupier demand and interest from across the food and drink sector for space at this pioneering development.
“Sustainability is at the heart of how we all do business, which makes Hello Fresh and SmartParc SEGRO Derby the ideal fit for each other. We look forward to welcoming them as the first of many new customers.”
Jackie Wild, Founder and Chief Executive at SmartParc, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome HelloFresh as our first anchor client in this ground-breaking new SmartParc development. They share our ambition to see food businesses operate in a more sustainable way, and also to build close links with the Derby community. We look forward to developing our partnership with them over the next few years, and to delivering all the commercial, operational and environmental benefits that SmartParc is uniquely able to provide.”
SmartParc SEGRO Derby will create 5,000 direct jobs and enable a new collaborative, flexible work model to accommodate people’s evolving lifestyles with the ambition of reconnecting the local community to food production.
SmartParc SEGRO Derby will be home to the first low-carbon food manufacturing community. A central distribution hub to consolidate goods in deliveries will streamline the distribution chain, providing a reduction in cost for occupiers whilst improving sustainability by eliminating food miles. From design and material selection to support for eventual occupiers, SmartParc and SEGRO will help to ensure excellent environmental performance and bold efficiency gains at the ground-breaking site.