The FSC Group managing director James Simpson at the facility.
Food-to-go business The FSC Group has inaugurated a new innovation facility in the UK as it targets new product development.
Located in the village of Flax Bourton on the outskirts of Bristol, the £750,000 centre is housed within a converted chapel, giving FSC’s 20-strong team room to research and test the latest concepts in areas such as bakery and confectionery, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, drinks, snacks, smoothies and juices.
The company serves clients from across the globe, including Shell UK (deli2go), Dunelm, Thorntons, Tchibo, Debenhams, Insomnia, Esquires, Autogrill and Statoil.
Headed by James Simpson, the family-run business, which has been in operation for 30 years, is now looking to expand its reach.
“Within the food-to-go sector, one of the most important measurements of a company’s competence and success is how well it can innovate and come up with new product ideas,” said Simpson. “This new centre will be an important visual demonstration, not only of our commitment to, but also our competence in innovation.
“Our development chefs and new product development team will be based full-time at the innovation centre and all customer presentations and development sessions will be held here.”
The venue includes a fully equipped development kitchen, while the presentation suite, which is where the chapel’s altar used to be, will allow the FSC team to present their ideas and new concepts to clients.
Simpson added: “Currently new product development is one of the services we give to our existing clients but now that the innovation centre is up and running opens up further what we can do.
“For example, if a business just wants support with NPD or would just like to use the space for their own customer presentations, then the innovation centre allows us to do just that.
“It’s a hugely exciting time for our business and we can’t wait to demonstrate to current clients as well as new clients why The FSC Group is the go-to business in the food-to-go sector.”
As well as the food-to-go sector, The FSC Group operates across the convenience retail, forecourt retail, grocery retail and coffee shop segments.
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