And just like that, 2022 has passed by in the blink of an eye. Clegg Food Projects has again been in the fortunate position of supporting both longstanding and new customers with their construction projects, with plenty of great results along the way.
As we head into the new year, business development manager Oliver Jenkins has looked back on the defining moments for the company.
How has 2022 been for Clegg Food Projects?
Investment this year has remained high, particularly in the food, drink and ‘advanced’ manufacturing sectors. There has been a good variety of new facilities too, such as the new home for Alcohols Limited Langley Distillery near Rugby, along with a new chocolate factory for Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) and not forgetting Cambridge Medical Robotic’s new 75,000 sq ft factory.
We have made time for some fundraising as well, and once again completed the excellent Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge, which involved a triathlon event in the Brecon Beacons. We raised more than £2,500 for our nominated charities, contributing to the massive £215,000 raised across the tough weekend of events.
It was also great to meet up with old and new customers and get back to networking as we enjoyed the full return of tradeshows following a couple of years’ hiatus.
What has been the biggest achievement?
While we count and celebrate all our achievements, Fischer Farm’s ‘vertical farm’ was a standout this year. The new £25m Norfolk-based facility aims to be the largest site in the world when it opens next year – something the Clegg team is very proud to have been part of.
Seeking to innovate the food supply chain and provide sustainable food all year round, vertical farms have the potential to become game changers for supply chains.
What has been the biggest or most exciting project?
Given the variety of projects, there are just so many to choose from. The most significant projects for us are the facilities driving new technologies and innovations. This includes Cambridge Medical Robotic’s new factory as well as FTSE 100 company Meggitt’s new aerospace facility and the continued investment into its manufacturing capabilities.
Pasta Evangelists is another great project from this year; an e-commerce food business offering something different in the sector. From famously being rejected by the Dragons Den, to building the biggest fresh pasta facility in the UK to keep up with their growth.
And lastly, how could we forget Greggs? We have continued to support them with their ongoing expansion, with a new production facility in Balliol. Overall, some brilliant projects, both new and ongoing.
How has the wider industry performed this year?
It’s difficult to comment on other businesses, but the industry has certainly faced many challenges. Most notably material prices have risen and there have been ongoing supply issues – a story that many share. This is a testament to the entire Clegg team, our partners and the supply chain that we have been able to navigate these challenges and still deliver for our customers.
Do you have any predictions for 2023?
We are heading into 2023 with several active projects and we are confident that investment levels will remain, albeit in a few selected industries. Inflationary factors are certainly playing their part and we will undoubtedly see impacts.
Despite this, here at Clegg Food Projects we are well-placed to manage these challenges and will be in a strong position to support our customers with investment plans in 2023 and beyond. This is only made possible by our incredible team, from the office to the site teams and our amazing supply chain partners. We look to forward building our relationships, client base and world-class facilities in the coming year.
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Whatever stage your investment is at, get in touch today to speak to an expert of our team to see how we can help you bring your next construction project to life. We work nationally and internationally across all areas of food, drink and manufacturing.