Pilgrim’s Europe has unveiled a new Pork Centre of Excellence following a £350,000 investment aimed at strengthening product development and accelerating innovation across its pork operations.
The Bromborough-based facility features a purpose-built development kitchen designed to support efficient, high-quality product creation. It is equipped with specialist tools, including an indoor charcoal BBQ for testing and showcasing BBQ concepts, alongside a dedicated dry ageing unit.
A customer panelling area has also been incorporated, enabling the business to host tastings, innovation sessions and collaborative workshops with retail and foodservice partners. The space is intended to streamline new product development, allowing concepts to move more effectively from initial idea through to finished product.
The centre will focus on pork and added-value ranges, with particular emphasis on high-growth categories such as BBQ and ready-to-cook products.
Ivan Siqueira said the facility represents a key step in enhancing the company’s innovation capabilities, forming part of a broader strategy to establish centres of excellence across its business units.
Meanwhile, Sam Reader highlighted the importance of combining modern facilities with customer collaboration, noting that the new environment allows teams to rapidly develop and refine new flavours, formats and product concepts in partnership with customers.
The launch follows the introduction of a new Butchery Academy at the company’s Westerleigh site, designed to attract and develop fresh talent within the UK meat industry.
