Meal kit giant to create hundreds of jobs in Derby

Meal-kit giant HelloFresh is set to bring hundreds of jobs to Derby after being confirmed as the first occupier on a new high-tech food campus.

The multinational company will create 450 jobs when it opens its new distribution centre at SmartParc SEGRO Spondon in late spring.

It will be the first business to set up shop at the food manufacturing and distribution campus, which is being created on the former British Celanese site.

Once complete, the development will cover 1.85 million sq ft and employ around 5,000 people.

Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “HelloFresh is a huge name, and choosing our city as their new home is testament to our strong reputation for innovation and manufacturing – Derby has a lot to offer.”

Laurent Guillemain, chief executive of HelloFresh UK, said: “We are really excited to be opening this new distribution centre in Derby and getting to know the local community.

“It’s also fantastic to be one of the first major brands to join SmartParc. The campus sets a precedent for the best in sustainable design and collaboration.”

HelloFresh’s distribution site at SmartParc SEGRO Spondon will be called The Orchard.

Guillemain said that the location and surrounding area was part of the big attraction of moving to Derby.

He said: “We are very excited about it. It should bring strong collaboration in terms of sustainability. Location is incredibly important for production facilities and distribution facilities. There are going to be hundreds of thousands of boxes coming out of here every year. We’ve chosen somewhere which is close to the Midlands and close to our courier operations.”