CPI welcomes stakeholders to showcase Tees Valley’s growing role in the UK’s food innovation future

Held at our Novel Food Innovation Centre at the Wilton Centre in Redcar, the event brought together businesses, investors, academia and government to explore how the region is helping innovative food companies bridge the gap between laboratory development and commercial-scale manufacturing. The event also welcomed The Rt Hon Anna Turley MP, Member of Parliament for Redcar and Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office). 

The expanded facility strengthens the UK’s capability to develop and manufacture next-generation food products while reinforcing the Tees Valley’s position as a nationally significant location for innovation-led growth.

Guests toured the new pilot-scale facility and heard how CPI is working alongside industry partners to support businesses developing novel ingredients, alternative proteins and sustainable food technologies, helping create high-value jobs, attract investment and develop the skills needed for future manufacturing.

The investment builds on the region’s long-standing manufacturing heritage, demonstrating how existing industrial strengths continue to evolve into new opportunities across food innovation, biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing.

Frank Millar, Chief Executive Officer at CPI, said:

“Delivering the UK’s ambitions for Engineering Biology has been described in the Modern Industrial Strategy and by extending our National Food Innovation Centre, we are delivering on this ambition. By providing the infrastructure, expertise and partnerships to help high potential businesses innovate with confidence, and accelerating the development of sustainable food technologies, we can strengthen the UK’s competitiveness and create new opportunities for growth.’’

The Rt Hon Anna Turley MP, Member of Parliament for Redcar and Minister without Portfolio, said:

“I’ve always believed Teesside should be at the heart of Britain’s industrial future, not just proud of its past. That’s exactly what facilities like this represent. The expansion of CPI’s Food Grade Pilot Facility will help us build a nationally significant bio manufacturing cluster here on Teesside. This exciting development from CPI will help innovative businesses grow, create skilled local jobs and attract further investment into our area. It’s another vote of confidence in Redcar and Cleveland and another example of why our region is becoming one of the UK’s leading centres for innovation, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, helping to build food security and climate resilience.” 

The launch forms part of CPI’s wider commitment to supporting innovation-led economic growth across the north-east, helping businesses scale new technologies across food innovation, engineering biology and sustainable manufacturing while creating opportunities for people, skills and investment across the region.