apetito | Wiltshire Farm Foods is proud to announce that spades are now in the ground at the site of its new £100 million state-of-the-art food production facility, Kitchen West, marking a major milestone in the leading meal provider's ambition to make a real difference to more people across the UK.

Every day, apetito supports individuals across the healthcare, care homes and education sectors, as well as consumers in their own homes through its Wiltshire Farm Foods business, with high-quality meals and services. Kitchen West represents a significant investment in this commitment, creating the capacity, capability and resilience needed to meet growing demand, respond to customers' evolving needs and extend that support further in the years ahead.

Combining outstanding production capabilities with industry-leading sustainability ambitions, the new 20,000sq/m facility in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, has been designed from the ground up to meet apetito's bespoke requirements and aims to set a new benchmark for UK food manufacturing. Alongside strengthening the business for the future and helping to drive higher standards across the sector, the development also marks a significant investment in Wiltshire and the local economy.

Building on apetito's award-winning commitment to sustainability, recognised through a King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2024, Kitchen West also aims to be one of the most sustainable food production facilities in the UK.

Playing a central role in the meal provider's 2040 Net Zero ambition, every aspect has been designed to minimise environmental impact, including a multi-million-pound solar PV installation expected to generate around 20% of the factory's total energy needs, and a construction process that prioritises the use of low embodied carbon materials, such as lower carbon steel and concrete.

Beyond carbon reduction, Kitchen West has been designed to improve the natural environment, with the development planned to deliver a 25% biodiversity net gain and leave the local area in a better position than before development began.

Ian Stone, CEO of apetito | Wiltshire Farm Foods said:

“At apetito, our purpose is to make a real difference through food, supporting the customers and communities who rely on us every day. Breaking ground at Kitchen West marks a significant milestone in that commitment and a major investment in our ability to reach and support even more people in the years ahead.

“Kitchen West will strengthen our ability to meet growing customer demand, respond to evolving needs and create the capacity and resilience needed for the future. It also gives us the opportunity to set a new benchmark for sustainability, playing a central role in our journey to Net Zero and demonstrating how food manufacturing can deliver both growth and environmental leadership.

“By investing in the infrastructure and technology required for the future, we're creating a platform that will help drive higher standards across the sector, reinforce our position at the forefront of our industry and, most importantly, enable us to continue making a positive difference for more people and communities across the UK.”