Green light for catering firm’s 100,000 sq ft HQ in Cannock

PLANS for a large-scale development at a Staffordshire business park have been approved.
 
The 100,000 sq ft industrial unit at Kingswood Lakeside Business Park in Cannock will provide the headquarters for national catering spares distributor First Choice Group.

It already employs 130 people and can now expand its operations in the new larger premises, enabling it to potentially double the number of employees.
 
Kingswood Lakeside was developed by Staffordshire County Council and is already home to the likes of  environmental firm Veolia and delivery company APC Overnight.
 
The new First Choice Group building will include a three-storey office incorporating kitchens for catering and training purposes, overlooking the lake.

The land was bought from the county council by property development and investment firm Opus Land, which also delivered the Veolia HQ and APC regional distribution hub at the scheme.
 
First Choice director John Whitehouse said: “We have been established for 16 years now and First Choice has become a familiar name in both the commercial catering industry and the local area. The business has seen double digit growth every year, moving to larger and larger premises in the process and is still expanding.”
 
Staffordshire County Council’s economy leader Mark Winnington said: “We’re pleased to see planning approval for the new First Choice HQ at Kingswood Lakeside – one of the county’s main business sites and one developed by the county council.

“This is yet another example of how, together with our partners, we are supporting business expansion in Staffordshire. It means more quality business development, retention of a leading company in its sector and more jobs in the Cannock area at a time when we have record low employment figures for the county.”