South West property developer Summerfield has agreed a new ten-year lease with major Somerset employer Greencore for a 25,000 sq. ft. facility at Isleport Business Park in Highbridge.
The agreement follows Greencore’s £1.2bn acquisition of Bakkavor earlier this year, creating one of the UK’s largest food manufacturing groups. The combined Highbridge operation specialises in desserts, tarts and cream cakes and employs nearly 600 people.
The deal represents a significant re-letting for Summerfield and reinforces Greencore’s commitment to Highbridge and Isleport Business Park, which has become an important regional centre for food production and manufacturing.
Desserts and their raw ingredients have been stored at the site for almost 30 years. The facility was originally operated by BFP Wholesale before becoming Chiltern Cold Storage and subsequently Bakkavor.
Will Grant, Portfolio Director of Summerfield Estates, said: “We are delighted to have completed a new ten-year lease with Greencore, further strengthening Isleport Business Park’s position as an important hub for food production, logistics and manufacturing in the region.”
“The agreement secures the future of a significant local facility and enables an almost 30-year association with food production at Highbridge to continue. Greencore is a major Somerset employer, and we are pleased to support its ongoing commitment to Highbridge.”
Bridgwater MP, Sir Ashley Fox, “I was pleased to visit Greencore’s Highbridge site earlier this year where I met staff and saw first-hand the important contribution the business makes to our local economy, supporting nearly 600 jobs.
“I welcome this new agreement, which helps secure long-term employment opportunities for my constituents and support the future of food manufacturing in Somerset.”
