Food and drink

Telford and the surrounding area have an established supply chain of food drink producers and processors that support the whole product life cycle from field to fork. Key elements of our business community include food packaging, manufacturing, processing, materials innovation testing and development to specialist logistics and preservation solutions. 

Telford’s food and drink network draws from its extensive links to local farmers, brewers and producers implementing advancements through modern engineering. We can bring products to the forefront of the market, from local family run farms and independent crafters through to world leading global producers of Muller and Dairy Crest. An example of recent growth is Muller doubling the size of its Telford factory as part of a £10 million project, making this plant one of the most technically advanced dairy production facilities in Europe. 

Key Stats

• 97% of the UK’s 7,920 food and drink businesses are SME’s
• The UK will need to employ 140,000 new employees by 2024. Of which 21000 jobs will be in the Food and Drink sub sectors across West Midlands Combined Authority.
• £1.04bn GVA attributed to food and drink manufacturing in the West Midlands Combined Authority and forecast to be £2.05bn by 2030
• The food and drink supply chain employs over 4 million people
• The UK's top export markets are Ireland, USA, and France

CASE STUDY: Bridge Cheese - Specialist support for funding and skills

A combination of practical support and grants have made Telford the ideal environment for Bridge Cheese to expand as the firm satisfies growing appetite for its products. 
 

Bridge Cheese takes its name and logo from the borough’s world-famous Iron Bridge and the company is very much in tune with the area’s industrial heritage and tradition for innovation.

Based at Stafford Park, it produces and sources a range of cheeses for food producers, restaurants and takeaways across the country and has seen turnover increase more than threefold since opening in 2018.

The firm was initially set up to supply the pizza home delivery franchise, Pizza Go Go, to enable it to secure a consistent supply of quality cheese. But it has since become a standalone company that’s branched out to build a diverse customer base creating tailored products.

One factor that has helped Bridge Cheese to both establish itself and meet growing demand is the assistance it’s had from Telford & Wrekin Council, says managing director Michael Harte.

Click here to read the full case study.