Set up new food and drink premises

How to find premises and decide on the best location to expand your food and drink business in the UK.

Food and drink in the UK

Food and drink businesses tend to be spread throughout the UK, rather than located in clusters. You'll find innovative companies across the country, producing food and drink renowned for its quality, taste and provenance.

Regions with particularly strong traditions in manufacturing include the English Midlands, Northern England, Scotland and South Wales.

Find premises in the UK

There are various property options available to food and drink businesses throughout the UK, including leased offices, serviced offices and industrial premises.

You can compare prices for offices or other spaces, such as industrial units, on commercial property search engines, like:

• Estates Gazette
• NovaLoca
• Savills
• CBRE
• Colliers
• JLL.

The website of advisory services like Instant Offices or Flexi Office can also help you locate office space.

Freeports

You can access a wide range of customs and tax benefits by expanding your business within a UK Freeport.

Freeports are special areas within the UK’s borders where different economic regulations apply and where you can access planning, infrastructure and innovation support from the UK government.

Other benefits include:

• increased capital allowances for investment in plant machinery, structures and buildings
• business rates relief
• employer National Insurance contributions relief
• deferrals and exemptions from import duties

Freeports with particularly strong food and drink opportunities are:

• East Midlands Freeport
• Thames Freeport

Regulations

If you’re setting up to manufacture or sell food in the UK, you’ll need to be aware of the UK’s regulatory framework. This includes the Food Standards Act, food safety orders, and food labelling guidelines.

Find out more about UK regulations on the Food Standards Agency website.

Intellectual property

The UK has an effective legal framework in place to protect your company’s intellectual property. Find more information on UK patents, trade marks, copyright and designs on GOV.UK.

Next steps

You can search the UK Investment Support Directory to find specialists with experience in helping businesses set up or expand in the UK.