2 min read - 10 Jul, 2026
Compass Group to open major new cuisine centre in Derbyshire
Compass Group UK & Ireland has announced a major investment in the future of British food production with the launch of its new Cuisine Centre in Derbyshire. Opening in late 2026, the state‑of‑the‑art facility will produce over 70 million meals a year across the public and private sectors.
Spanning 10,000 square metres, the Cuisine Centre will be located at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, a £300m 155‑acre regenerated brownfield food manufacturing and distribution site. The facility will provide increased capacity, modern production capabilities and enhanced sustainability credentials. An on‑site energy centre will recycle waste heat to reduce energy consumption, while the first tranche of solar generation will supply around 20% of the facility’s power.
The Cuisine Centre will produce five specialist ranges, each freshly made on site, with ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers, adhering to stringent standards for food safety, quality, and responsible sourcing. Alongside its established supplier network, the Cuisine Centre aims to explore opportunities to increase regional sourcing as part of the facility’s opening, promoting community engagement and championing British food.
Compass Group is to open a new 10,000 square metre Cuisine Centre in Derbyshire, producing over 70 million meals a year / Picture: Compass Group
The ranges include over 200 dishes across mains, sides and desserts. Centralised production and flexible meal formats such as multiportion or plated, will improve operational efficiency, and reduce preparation time, energy usage and food waste for catering teams.
Charles Brown, interim CEO, Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “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.
“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.”
The Cuisine Centre is underpinned by a commitment to responsible and ethical sourcing and will play a key role in supporting Compass Group UK & Ireland’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. It will also help to deliver SmartParc SEGRO Derby’s wider sustainability goals, alongside major improvements in water conservation, waste reduction, and transport and packaging efficiency.
Jackie Wild, SmartParc SEGRO Derby, added: “Compass Group’s new Cuisine Centre is exactly the kind of investment SmartParc SEGRO Derby was designed to support. 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.”
