Food Manufacturing
Blackpool is home to a diverse and prospering food manufacturing cluster, characterised by high levels of investment, innovation and value-added products.
Leading businesses within Blackpool & the Fylde Coast’s food manufacturing cluster include Laila’s Fine Foods (supermarket ready meals), Nutrition Group (dietary supplements and functional foods), and Burton’s Biscuit Company, Seafood in Fleetwood and Fisherman’s Friends.
Leading in Food Manufacturing
Added-value food sector capabilities
Companies with significant product development expertise include Nutrition Group and Burton’s Biscuit Company – home to the Cookie Centre of Excellence. The cluster’s food development and production strengths are complemented by related capabilities including the manufacture of food processing equipment, for example by Loynds Machinery.
A high-quality food manufacturing workforce
Blackpool provides food manufacturing businesses with access to a workforce that is ideally suited to the sector’s needs. Workforce availability is strong across all skills levels, ranging from ‘elementary occupations’ to technically skilled process industry and manufacturing workers.
Excellence in education and skills
Blackpool’s established food sector workforce is supported by colleges providing food, engineering and process sector skills, and by regional universities delivering specialist education and research in food technology disciplines.
Enterprise zone property solutions
The Blackpool area is home to two Enterprise Zones (Hillhouse and Blackpool Airport) focused on advanced technology sectors. Investing businesses can benefit from incentives including business rates discounts, enhanced capital allowances and simplified planning, helping them to save money and minimise project risk.
Significant cost savings for businesses
Blackpool’s compelling business location offer is completed by a highly competitive cost base. The area’s labour costs are significantly lower than the national averages, while industrial rents are amongst the lowest for England’s industrial Enterprise Zone locations.
Blackpool’s Travel to Work Area has 2.5 times the Great Britain-average concentration of food manufacturing workers.
Find out more
Find out more about how Blackpool Makes it Work for Food Manufacturing by downloading our location guide.
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