Dragonfly Foods has spread its wings with a move to new premises at an expanding Devon business park.
Richard Persey and Maria Estates is the owner of Hitchcocks Business Park in Willand, Devon, formerly a working farm, which was created in 2013 as part of a strategy for diversification.
Now, the business park, which benefits from excellent access to the local and regional road network, extends to 20 acres. Existing businesses on site include Gregory Distribution, DFS, Mid Devon District Council and Trucksmith. These and other occupiers enjoy the park’s accessibility and availability of high-quality buildings with extensive external areas.
Dragonfly Foods, which is part of Japanese company Hikari Miso, has signed a new 21-year lease in a deal brokered by property consultancy JLL for unit 7, which is part of a new warehouse that has been built at the park. Hikari Miso has invested in a £4.5 million fit-out of the new premises. The build and fit-out are complete, with Dragonfly Foods now moved in.
The firm, which already employs 11 people in total, will create 9 new jobs at the site by 2020, providing a boost for the local economy.
Tim Western, lead director at JLL in Exeter, said: “The creation of Hitchcocks Business Park in Willand has been and continues to be a big win for the area. As more and more thriving businesses join the park, it is helping to put this part of Devon on the map as a hub for the manufacturing and distribution sectors. It is also excellent to see a major Japanese company choosing to invest in the UK, and in particular Devon.”
Dragonfly Foods was formed in 1984 with just two members of staff and has since extended the range beyond tofu and created organic burgers and soysages using tofu as a main ingredient.
The business supplies the majority of the health food wholesalers along with one of the biggest health retailers Holland & Barrett.
Amanda Robson, managing director of Dragonfly Foods, said ‘We are delighted with our new factory at Hitchcocks Business Park. It is a really unique site combining idyllic surroundings with fabulous location for transport links.”
Richard Persey said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Dragonfly team to provide the accommodation they required to take their business to the next level. Our decision to construct high quality buildings speculatively has paid off and we intend to continue this strategy to meet the high levels of demand that we are experiencing.”