A wholesale food firm in Devon is set to create 30 jobs as it expands into a new headquarters and distribution centre.
R D Johns Foodservice supplies hospitality venues, schools and care homes across the South West from its depots near Newton Abbot and in Bath, and also provides a butchery service.
The company, which has been trading for 50 years and has been based at the Milber Industrial Estate since 1998, is set to move into new purpose-built Devon premises as it eyes opportunities for “managed, sustainable future growth”.
When complete the new building will provide 40,000 sq ft over three floors for frozen, chilled and ambient storage, as well as office space for the firm’s expanded workforce, which it is looking to grow to 250 with the new recruits.
R D Johns has appointed Cheltenham-based architect Pentadel Project Management to design and deliver the project. Construction is underway, with the facility on track to be completed and operational by the end of the year.
Andrew Johns, managing director at R D Johns, said the new facility would support the company’s future growth, and designing the new base had been “an exciting journey”.
Pentadel said the building had been designed to maximise daylight and reduce reliance on artificial light sources, while it is also constructing bike storage for staff and car parking with electric vehicle charging points.
It said it was aiming to avoid any waste from the build going to landfill, with any waste that cannot be recycled to be converted into energy to power homes.
James Kemp, managing director of Pentadel said: “This project is going to be a great example of our design philosophy and of all the principles we hold dear – we hope the R D Johns team will love working there, that the community will be proud of this local business’ efforts to create a positive addition to the area, and that other businesses in future will be inspired to create facilities that are better for people and the planet.”
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