The Future of Food Glorious Food in Slough.

When people think of Slough, they might first picture its strong logistics sector or its proximity to Heathrow and London. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something just as vital to the UK economy,  a thriving food manufacturing industry that’s modern, resilient, and quietly leading the charge toward a low-carbon future.

Slough’s menu addition

Around Noon, a leading manufacturer of chilled, hot, and frozen ready-made food, has opened a major new facility at Slough Trading Estate, delivering a £50 million boost to the local food industry and creating up to 200 new jobs. The site officially launched in May, marking a significant investment in Slough’s growing reputation as a hub for food innovation and manufacturing. Every month, the company produces more than 4.4 million food products including sandwiches, salads and natural fruit juices. It supplies supermarkets, as well as healthcare and travel industries.

Sustainability is central to the design of the new facility, which incorporates a range of eco-friendly features. These include rooftop photovoltaic panels that generate electricity for the site, with surplus energy fed back into the national grid. Energy-efficient LED lighting is installed throughout, alongside a modern heating and comfort cooling system, mechanical ventilation, and water-saving fittings in the washrooms. To promote greener commuting, the site includes shower facilities for cyclists and electric vehicle charging points. Additionally, SMART meters have been installed across the facility to support improved operational efficiency.

This expansion is part of a wider success story, Slough has already proven it has what it takes to support large-scale food manufacturers. Other major players in the area include Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading food wholesalers, which operates its head office and distribution depot from Slough Trading Estate, and Rombouts Coffee Great Britain Limited, based at Yeovil Road, also within the estate. Together, these businesses demonstrate Slough’s strength as a prime location for food production, distribution, and logistics.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Housing, Property, and Regeneration at Slough Borough Council says: “The growth of the food manufacturing sector speaks to Slough’s ambition to strengthen its industrial base as well as its residential homes and community focus. While it’s essential that big businesses and manufacturers continue to lead the way in creating a more sustainable future, it’s equally important that individuals have the tools and opportunities to play their part too. Initiatives like food waste recycling empower every resident to contribute to a greener Slough.”

Encouraging Sustainability

Slough Borough Council is implementing a borough-wide weekly food waste collection starting in November 2025, with full implementation by March 2026. This initiative aims to increase the borough’s sustainability and improve waste management by encouraging residents to separate food waste and recycle it. Unlike some other collection programmes, no special bags are currently required for Slough’s caddies, any small bin bag, shopping bag or even bread bags and similar can be used in both the indoor caddies and be sealed and put in the outdoor ones as well. Both indoor and outdoor caddies will be sealable with special locks to prevent pests and smells.

Local Strength, Global Reach

Slough’s modern food manufacturing ecosystem benefits from a strong local labour base, with a diverse, skilled workforce that reflects the town’s cosmopolitan character. Access to training and upskilling, through partnerships with local colleges, apprenticeship schemes, and employer-led initiatives, ensures that the workforce can adapt to new technologies while supporting sustainable growth.

The town’s location, close to major road and rail links and within easy reach of London – 30 minutes by rail and road – and Heathrow, adds to its appeal as a logistics hub. This strategic advantage strengthens supply chain resilience, enabling manufacturers to move goods efficiently and meet consumer demand with minimal disruption, a key consideration in today’s climate-conscious market.