Hobson & Porter, Innovation based on tradition

From canapes to cakes, food innovation in East Yorkshire is to get a £4m head-start. A new food innovation and technology centre at Sutton Fields industrial estate, east Hull, hopes to incubate new food businesses. Work is under way on the Malmo Park site, which will provide start-up food businesses with office and production space, as well as a research kitchen and expert knowledge.

Hull City Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, Councillor Andy Sloan, said: "It's all about helping businesses move up the chain and set up as entrepreneurs.

Setting up a food business is one of the hardest things to do as there's so much to consider. We want businesses to get the right food product to the right target market as quickly as possible. Malmo Park is all about taking away some of the stumbling blocks that get in the way of food innovation in our area."

Up to 10 innovative businesses will operate side by side when the centre opens in October. The food grade units, with sealed walls and floors, will range in size from 1,500 to 6,000sqft. Malmo Park also hopes to employ a development chef to add "all the flavour and creativity needed to put local food businesses on the road to success". The centre will be the first of its kind in the region and hopes to attract food firms from the Yorkshire and the Humber region. It could also provide a home for existing companies and overseas firms looking to test the market. So far, a craft bread bakery, gluten free pie firm, French patisserie and food microbiologist have signed up to Malmo Park. Jon Los, local food entrepreneur and chair of Hull Food Alliance, said: "East Yorkshire alone has seen so much growth in food over the last few years, so this park is well-placed to add the X-factor to some of our region's best ideas and food businesses. Malmo Park will have its own development kitchen and businesses will be able to use the fantastic facilities and expert knowledge to make their entrepreneurial ideas a commercial reality."

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Yorkshire Forward and Hull City Council.

Article courtesy of the Hull Daily Mail.