Granarolo, the prominent Italian dairy company, is set to establish a new head office and distribution centre in the UK, with a significant investment of £10 million ($12.5 million). This development is located in Willenhall, West Midlands, and will also serve Midland Chilled Foods, a subsidiary involved in food wholesaling.

The newly built facility is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2023. It has been designed with built-in flexibility to accommodate future growth as the business continues to evolve. The investment follows a fire incident earlier this year that resulted in the destruction of Granarolo UK's previous headquarters in January 2023.

Anthony Bosco, CEO of Granarolo UK, highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility, stating that it will not only enhance the company’s operational capabilities but also enable more meaningful engagement with clients. "The move allows us to better serve our clients and engage with them in meaningful ways," Bosco commented.

The state-of-the-art distribution centre will feature advanced storage options, encompassing provisions for frozen, chilled, and ambient foods. The facility is set to hold more than 4,500 pallets and will include office space alongside a dedicated new product development and test kitchen. The kitchen is designed to act as a hub for customer presentations and collaborative efforts in product innovation.

In alignment with contemporary environmental standards, the new facility will implement various initiatives aimed at sustainability, such as the installation of solar panels that are projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 50 tonnes annually.

Granarolo UK focuses on delivering a range of Italian dairy products alongside other food items tailored for the UK market. The company, with roots tracing back to 1957 in Italy, operates under established brands including Granarolo, Granarolo 100% dairy-free, Yomo, and Casa Azzurra. Granarolo's parent company boasts an impressive annual turnover exceeding €1 billion ($1.04 billion), operates 14 production sites in Italy, and maintains a significant international presence, manufacturing in nine locations abroad while employing approximately 2,500 staff. The company processes an astonishing 924,532 tons of milk annually to meet its production needs.

Midland Chilled Foods, which will jointly utilize the new facility, specializes in a diverse product range encompassing dairy, plant-based items, meat and poultry, as well as baked goods.