The bakery giant Greggs has finalised the lease for a 23-acre site in Derbyshire, where it will establish a sizable food factory and warehouse operation.
As part of its ambitious growth strategy, Greggs plans to open between 140-160 new shops this year, supplementing the 2,500 shops it currently operates nationwide. The establishment of the food factory and warehouse operation in Derbyshire is a pivotal aspect of this expansion plan.
The new facility is under development at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, situated on a cutting-edge food manufacturing site in Spondon, Derby. Spanning a 23-acre plot on the campus, Greggs will be the occupant. Once the building is constructed by the landlord, Greggs will proceed to develop the facility and install state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics equipment to enhance operational efficiency onsite. Expected to open in late 2026, the site is anticipated to generate up to 600 job opportunities.
The new purpose-built facility will offer expanded manufacturing capacity for products, encompassing new savoury and sweet production lines. It will also feature logistics support for frozen storage and fully automated robotic shop order picking and distribution solutions provided by Swisslog, a prominent logistics automation company. Moreover, the facility will have surplus capacity to facilitate future investments aimed at meeting the demands of category growth, innovation, and development. This includes the capability for at least five manufacturing platforms and the potential for commissioning new production lines to accommodate volume demand.
Roisin Currie, Chief Executive at Greggs commented: “We are delighted to announce our new state-of-the-art facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. This purpose-built site offers significant flexibility to add new capabilities and lines as our business evolves. This is a significant step in our supply chain investment and will provide much-needed manufacturing and logistics support to power our ambitious growth plans.”
Jackie Wild, CEO at SmartParc said: “It is our ultimate vision that SmartParc SEGRO Derby becomes a hub for forward-thinking food businesses seeking sustainable and efficient operations, a collaborative work space and a first-class location with excellent connectivity, whilst also putting their people first. Greggs embodies this approach and we are immensely proud to welcome such a cherished food business to the site.”