What SmartParc does

SmartParc, founded in 2002 by Jackie Wild, is a UK-based real estate developer that has established a new asset class: dedicated food manufacturing business parks. The company co-locates food producers and distributors on a single campus that shares central infrastructure, including an ammonia-based energy centre with heat recovery from refrigeration plants, a 10,842-panel solar PV array, a centralised distribution hub, a Food Manufacturing Innovation & Technology Centre, and a suite of managed services (security, facilities management, waste, hygiene, recruitment). The flagship project, SmartParc SEGRO Derby, is a 155-acre, 2 million sq ft campus in the East Midlands developed in partnership with SEGRO, a UK REIT, with total project investment of approximately £300 million and £12 million of government funding from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership's Getting Building Fund, plus an additional £6.85 million for a manufacturing research centre.

The business model is built around long-term leases to food manufacturing and foodservice enterprises, with units ranging from 3,500 sq ft starter units to 400,000 sq ft manufacturing facilities. Confirmed anchor tenants include HelloFresh (operational since April 2024 with its largest European distribution facility), Greggs (a 23-acre frozen production and logistics facility opening late 2026), and Compass Group UK & Ireland (a 10,000 sq m Cuisine Centre producing over 70 million meals annually, opening late 2026). SmartParc monetises the model through recurring lease income and shared services revenue, while delivering quantified tenant benefits including up to 30%+ energy cost savings and up to 20% production cost reductions. The full-build-out energy centre is projected to save 30,537 tons of CO2e per annum, equivalent to 11,700 acres of forest.

The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales — led by the CEO and Business Development team — targeting large food manufacturers and foodservice operators, with parallel engagement of city and regional governments to identify and co-fund new sites. Property agents CBRE and FHP handle leasing of individual units. SmartParc is actively pursuing global expansion, with sites identified in Ireland, Eastern Europe, and the Greater Toronto Area in Canada, and longer-term markets under review in India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Australia. Management includes CEO Jackie Wild, COO Europe Phil Lovell (formerly Greencore and The Billington Group), President & COO Americas Ennio Zambito (formerly Amazon, Greencore, and Kerry Foods), and Design Director Giles Caswell.

Name

SmartParc

Legal name

SmartParc

Website

https://smart-parc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SmartParc develops purpose-built food manufacturing business parks that co-locate food producers around shared energy, distribution, and innovation infrastructure. Its flagship SmartParc SEGRO Derby anchors enterprise tenants including HelloFresh, Greggs, and Compass Group on a 155-acre campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Real Estate / Food Manufacturing Facilities

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Pump & Smart HVAC Controller Integration (HSAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Demand Response, Utility Program Enrollment & Smart HVAC Optimization (HSAOANAJ), Smart Building Software Platforms (IWMS/CAFM Integration, Digital Twin, Command Center) (BPABAGAG)

Keywords

• Food business parks
• Food manufacturing facilities
• Industrial real estate
• Shared energy infrastructure
• Sustainable food production

Headquarters

HQ city

Slough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food Production Facility Leasing: SmartParc leases purpose-built food manufacturing and distribution units to food production companies. Units range from starter units of 3,500 sq ft to large-scale manufacturing units up to 400,000 sq ft. Tenants sign long-term leases with flexible configurations. The leasing model enables food companies to upgrade, expand, and reconfigure in line with changing market conditions without the burden of owning property.
2. Shared Services and Utilities: SmartParc provides managed services to all tenants including security, park facilities management, energy management, waste services, hygiene services, asset management, environmental services, laundry management, reception and courier services, and people services (recruitment, training, occupational health). These services are bundled into lease agreements or procured via separate contracts.
3. Central Distribution Hub: Shared distribution facility on-site enables pallet-based storage and consolidated logistics services rented by tenants, generating additional revenue while reducing operational costs across the campus.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SmartParc develops and operates dedicated food business parks that lease purpose-built food manufacturing and distribution units (3,500 to 400,000 sq ft) to food producers on long-term flexible leases. Tenants share a centralised Energy Centre with ammonia-based heat recovery, solar PV generation, a shared distribution hub, and bundled managed services (security, waste, hygiene, recruitment, training), enabling up to 30% energy cost savings and up to 20% production cost reductions.

Product overview

SmartParc is a new asset class in commercial property dedicated to food production - a platform of specialist food business parks offering shared infrastructure, services, and sustainable energy solutions. The core offering combines purpose-built food manufacturing facilities with a shared energy platform, central distribution hub, and shared services. SmartParc SEGRO Derby is the flagship site featuring Food Manufacturing Innovation & Technology Centre of Excellence, an Energy Centre for heat recycling, and flexible manufacturing units. The platform enables tenants to optimize operating processes, achieve up to 20% reduction in production costs and 30% energy savings through collaborative resource sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartParc SEGRO Derby Flagship 155-acre food business park in Derby, UK, offering 2 million sq ft of high-tech food manufacturing and distribution space with flexible units from 3,500 sq ft starter units to 400,000 sq ft manufacturing facilities, shared energy infrastructure, and a central distribution hub. Targeted at enterprise food manufacturers, food retailers, foodservice operators, and food SMEs.
• Flexible Leasing of Purpose-Built Food Manufacturing Units Long-term flexible leases of purpose-built food manufacturing and distribution units ranging from 3,500 sq ft starter/incubation units to 400,000 sq ft large-scale manufacturing facilities, configurable to client process design requirements and allowing tenants to upgrade, expand, and reconfigure without the burden of owning property.
• Energy Centre (Central Heating and Cooling System) Centralised ammonia-based heating and cooling system that recycles waste heat from refrigeration plants and distributes hot and cold water loops across all campus buildings. First of its kind in the food industry, delivering a minimum seasonal efficiency of 400% (over 4x more efficient than gas boilers) and supporting 30,537 tons of CO2e savings per annum once fully built out.
• Solar PV Power Generation Phase 1 solar PV installation of 10,842 panels across unit roofs at SmartParc SEGRO Derby, generating 4.29 GWh per annum (26.4% of campus-wide energy demand) and saving 320 tons of CO2 per annum. All power is consumed on-site, reducing grid reliance.
• Central Distribution Hub Shared on-site distribution facility providing pallet-based collaborative storage, temperature-controlled storage, and consolidated goods delivery for tenants. Enables collaborative procurement, reduces food miles, and offers better value to customers through bulk logistics.
• Food Manufacturing Innovation and Technology Centre On-site research and training hub providing food manufacturing technology research, university collaboration, industry training, and incubation space for SMEs. Supports skills development, career opportunities, and industry innovation for the food sector.
• Integrated Managed Services Package Bundled managed services provided to all tenants including security, park facilities management, energy management, waste services, hygiene services, asset management, environmental services, laundry management, reception and courier services, project management, recruitment, occupational health, training, and people resourcing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% energy cost savings for tenants through shared sustainable energy platform
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEGROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2021SEGRO, a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and leading owner, asset manager and developer of modern warehousing and light industrial property, serves as SmartParc's development partner for SmartParc SEGRO Derby. SEGRO provides multi-million pound investment to regenerate brownfield sites and co-develop the food business parks. SEGRO manages 8.8 million sq ft of space with an asset value of £15.3 billion across 8 European countries. Managing Director Andrew Pilsworth described SmartParc as a 'true game-changer'.
• TSLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSL is SmartParc's design and construction partner and sister company. Led by SmartParc CEO Jackie Wild who founded TSL in 2002, TSL is the No. 1 provider of food facilities in the UK. TSL constructs the cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and energy centre at each SmartParc food park.
• Sphere DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationSphere Design is SmartParc's design partner and a multi-disciplinary consultancy specialising in the design and project delivery of food and beverage processing and logistics facilities. Sphere operates as a fully integrated design, project management, and cost control consultancy with specialist teams providing strategic guidance and technical expertise throughout the project lifecycle. Kate Hancock, COO of Sphere, is responsible for all client factory designs at SmartParc.
• Derby City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerby City Council is SmartParc's public sector funding partner and key collaborator in the SmartParc SEGRO Derby project. The Council granted planning permission, provided grant funding contributions, and has been instrumental in supporting the project as a example of public-private sector collaboration. Leader Councillor Baggy Shanker described the development as 'essential in putting Derby on the map as a centre for excellence, innovation and sustainability'.
• Veolia UKcoreTechnology or IntegrationVeolia UK has provided expertise and passion for powering cleaner energy to support the development of the Energy Centre at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. Veolia brought its expertise in district heating and energy infrastructure to help develop the pioneering heating and cooling network, as SmartParc works to decarbonise food production.
• Marketing DerbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing Derby promotes Derby and Derbyshire on the national and international stage as a destination for investment. Managing Director John Forkin has expressed strong support for SmartParc, stating it will 'create thousands of jobs' and 'help diversify our economy'.
• CBREcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBRE serves as a property agent for SmartParc SEGRO Derby, marketing and leasing units to food manufacturing and distribution tenants. Contacts include Olivia Newport, Peter Monks, and Luke Thacker at CBRE.
• FHPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFHP is a property agent marketing and leasing units at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. Contacts include John Proctor, Tim Gilbertson, and Darran Severn.

Scale indicators17 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEGRO: UK-listed industrial REIT and SmartParc's official co-development partner for SmartParc SEGRO Derby. Both build and operate purpose-built industrial/logistics campuses with sustainability features; SEGRO is the broader-aperture incumbent whose template SmartParc is productising for the food-manufacturing vertical.
• Goodman Group: Global owner/developer of industrial and logistics real estate with $70B+ of assets under management. Highly comparable business model (master-planned industrial estates with shared services for tenants) and a similar emphasis on ESG-led development and large anchor tenants.
• GLP (Global Logistics Properties): Global logistics real estate developer/operator with significant food and cold-chain exposure. SmartParc Director Adrienne Howells previously led development at GLP, and the firm's model of co-locating logistics and light-industrial tenants on purpose-built campuses directly parallels SmartParc's value proposition.
• Peel L&P: Major UK property and infrastructure developer with significant logistics, energy, and food-sector developments including the Wirral Waters and other master-planned campuses. Operates a similarly capital-intensive model with long-lease food-and-logistics tenants and shared infrastructure.
• Panattoni: Europe's largest privately-owned industrial developer, with extensive build-to-suit and speculative logistics / light-industrial development across the UK and EU. Closely comparable in delivery model (turnkey, purpose-built facilities) and food-sector target tenants as SmartParc expands into Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Prologis: The largest global industrial REIT ($200B+ AUM) with extensive sustainability and on-site energy programmes for logistics tenants. Compares to SmartParc on shared infra, ESG credentials, and tenant quality but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple industrial verticals.
• Tritax Big Box REIT: UK-listed REIT focused on 'big box' logistics and distribution warehouses, including food-sector supply chain tenants. Comparable customer base and asset class but operates a much broader logistics rather than specialised food-manufacturing mandate.
• LondonMetric Property: Diversified UK REIT with material logistics and food-sector exposure and a track record of purpose-built, pre-let facilities. Comparable asset class but as a broader REIT investor rather than a specialised food-park operator.

Emerging players

• Stoford: Specialist UK developer of logistics, manufacturing, and food-sector facilities with notable food-manufacturing clients (e.g., Baker's Bottom, Greencore, Müller). Directly comparable in scope and target tenants, but at smaller scale and without SmartParc's shared energy platform.

Others

• Wageningen Food Valley: Dutch food innovation cluster/food business park concept anchored by Wageningen University. Shares SmartParc's thesis of co-locating food businesses with shared research infrastructure and sustainability services, although a public-sector cluster rather than a commercial real estate developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SmartParc

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SmartParc