Business park offers perfect package for manufacturer’s growth

Ultimate Group is continuing its growth by expanding into another facility at Europarc, Grimsby.

The company – the UK’s largest independent flexible packaging manufacturer focused on the food industry – has signed a lease to occupy a unit developed by Wykeland Group.

The 30,000 sq ft facility is one of two new buildings developed speculatively in the latest major phase of investment at the business park.

Ultimate Group is expected to occupy the new building in the next few weeks, giving the business further capacity, increased flexibility and room for future growth, in addition to the company’s existing 120,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space at Europarc.

The overall investment project of which this transaction forms part will create up to 20 new jobs, adding to Ultimate Group’s existing workforce of 250.

John Gouldthorp, asset manager for Wykeland, owner and developer of Europarc, said: “We’re delighted Ultimate Group has committed to this new facility, which will increase significantly its already substantial presence on site.

“Being based at Europarc has proven to be a key factor in the success of the business and has provided an important platform for growth.

“We’re always very pleased to see tenant businesses grow within our portfolio and we were happy for Ultimate Group to take a further building, which meets their needs now and into the future.”

Ultimate Group provides printing techniques and innovative packaging solutions to major UK retailers, packers and global brands.

Its expansion into new premises is the latest in a series of significant investments over recent years to support the growth of the business.

Jeremy Hodson, managing director of Ultimate Group, said: “The additional control we will have from insourcing more of our warehousing and the increased overall capacity this transaction gives us is an essential part of our organic growth plans for the future.

“Having the additional space will give us many more opportunities to be more flexible in our use of our overall Europarc footprint to facilitate better workflows and increased efficiency, resulting in being able to be even more agile and cost-effective throughout our operations.”

Europarc has more than 800,000 sq ft of business space, with over 2,500 people employed on site.

Blue chip occupiers include supermarket giant Morrisons, Sea Fish Industry Authority, the Hain Daniels Group of leading food brands and 2 Sisters Food Group.

The two new neighbouring buildings have a prominent position on Genesis Way, the main route through the heart of the Europarc site. The buildings have been delivered for Wykeland by local contractor JemBuild.

Wykeland is in discussions with a number of interested parties for the second unit, which has a floor space of 15,000 sq ft.

The £3.6m development of the latest buildings at Europarc has been supported by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Pat Doody, chairman of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “We are delighted to have provided £1.8m towards this important scheme which will help support the growth and expansion of our food sector.

“We look forward to seeing the wider economic benefits of this investment.”

Minister for regional growth and local government, MP Simon Clarke, said: “When we invested £1.8m in the Europarc scheme through the Local Growth Fund, our ambition was to unlock jobs and boost the number of businesses in the area.

“That is why I am so pleased to see that Ultimate Group have expanded their business at this facility.

“This is great news for the people of Grimsby and is the latest project to unlock 20 new jobs while supporting growth in the local area.”

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