Food Production Facilities
We have developed a specialist knowledge in the design and refurbishment of Food Production Facilities over many years of working in the food industry.  Our understanding of the requirements of clean room environments, plant and production equipment, and distribution of product allows us to provide innovative and cost effective solutions for our clients.  As Architects, we are ideally placed to coordinate all the issues food production presents, from dealing with plans for site development and statutory approvals (including planning and building permissions), through to the detailed design of building envelopes. 

Walkers Midshire Foods, Leicester

Client : Integrated Food Projects for Samworth Brothers
Progress : various projects started 2004 

Two major extensions and internal alterations were commissioned by Walkers Midshire Foods to extend their existing production facilities on tight industrial sites in central Leicester. Williams-Architects were engaged by project managers Integrated Food Projects to assist in realising the full potential of the sites through a variety of remodelling and extension solutions.

New Chill Store, Wensleydale Creamery

Client : Wensleydale Creamery
Location : Hawes, Wensleydale
Progress : Completed 2011

Williams-Architects were commissioned to design a new maturation store for Wensleydale Creamery's burgeoning cheese production facility. Providing a large industrial building within the sensitive context of the Yorkshire Dales National Park presented the opportunity to create a food production facility with an increased consideration to materials and context.  Here we used timber cladding to help soften the façade and place it in context with its rural surroundings.

Kettleby Foods, Melton Mowbray

Client : Integrated Food Projects for Samworth Brothers
Progress : Various projects completed 2005-2011 


Kettleby Foods' continuingly expanding business has resulted in several extensions and alterations being needed across the site to maximise on productivity. Williams-Architects have provided both design and management services at various times, in the provision of additional space for production, stores, changing, research, administration and engineering.

The most recent projects, commissioned through Integrated Food Projects, have included the accommodation of a new steam boiler and covered client tray storage - diverse aspects that each respond to a specific identified need.

At all stages, the initial build quality and design ethos have been respected and continued. Extensions and alterations strive to blend with the original footprint and form – with the original concept of the production facility within a landscaped green site keenly maintained. 

Vion Food Group, Haverhill

Client : Integrated Food Projects for Vion Food Group
Specialist fire damage building condition report, refurbishment of main entrances

Walkers Snack Foods, Skelmersdale

Client : Summers Inman for PepsiCo 
Contract Value : c£12M
Location : Skelmersdale, Lancashire
Progress : Completed 2007

Walkers Snack Foods took over an existing food production facility in 2004, and have continued to refurbish and extend across the site as production demands have increased and new products have been introduced. The project has been managed by Summers Inman, with Williams-Architects providing a full architectural support service. The project has required a fast-paced turnaround of design information and construction techniques in order to maintain and achieve the market goals of the client.

Food-grade hygienic large-scale production and packing areas have been constructed to accommodate the process line halls, using long-span cladding panels to provide the most economical and practical structure with the smoothest lines and least framing.

Existing ancillary office and welfare accommodation has been demolished under an overall rationalisation of the site to make way for extended packing areas. New offices and welfare facilities, including a full suite of occupational health services, have been constructed to improve the flow of personnel onto and throughout the site. The new facilities have been designed to also provide flexible office accommodation, and the scope to accommodate increased future levels of production staff. They also maximise on natural lighting and lower energy requirements wherever possible.

Traffic has been re-ordered to separate staff vehicles from despatch/delivery HGV traffic, including new parking areas, site access and security points. Raw material delivery has been rationalised and mechanised to reduce on-site HGV manoeuvring and improve the flow of produce. 

Site-wide storm water measures make best use of the on-site soakaway potential, with the offices and welfare facilities including a collection and recycling system to feed the toilet cisterns. 

Bradgate Bakery, Leicester

Client : Samworth Brothers
Progress : Various projects completed between 2004-2007 

Williams-Architects were directly involved in assisting Samworth Brothers' Bradgate Bakery in Leicester, with several schemes involving substantial internal re-organisation and multiple extensions to their existing facility.

A series of extensions and internal alterations involved the careful planning and coordination of operational relocation factors and the formation of new production areas and facilities.  This ensured that Bradgate Bakery remained fully operational throughout both the larger initial £2.5M project as well as subsequent extensions to chill store capacity.  

We provided a full architectural service, ranging from concept design through to completion, and including interior design and organisational signage graphics.  We also assisted with developing the operational organisation strategies required to assist Bradgate Bakery in complying with the latest protocols on hygiene control.