Driscoll's has taken its UK operations to the next level with the opening of a new headquarters in Kent, combining cutting-edge R&D, manufacturing, and packaging in a single facility.

The refurbished Linton plant near Maidstone joins California and Mexico as one of three strategic hubs for Driscoll's worldwide. According to the supplier, this plant is the largest dedicated berry development facility in Europe and the first of its kind in the region to offer a fully traceable process from seedling to packing house, all in one location.

The six-hectare site will house Driscoll's UK headquarters, but the company emphasized that it is much more than just a renovated office. "This future-proof site is a dynamic new hub for innovation, taste, and collaboration, bringing together our R&D, Brand, and Category teams under one roof," Driscoll's stated.

It features labs and collaborative workspaces, as well as the nearby Rankins Ranch research farm. The packing house, which was added following the acquisition of Berry Gardens in 2022, is scalable for future growth. It will handle Driscoll's branded berries, as well as private label brands.

The company's global R&D director, Scott Komar, was in Kent in early May with the European Director General, Wyard Stomp, to inaugurate the renovated six-hectare plant. "We're thrilled," Komar told FPJ. "This strategic facility houses the most innovative berry research at Driscoll's and supplies our other 36 plants worldwide."

Driscoll's says its investment in Linton, where all of its UK operations are now centralized, is a huge vote of confidence in the UK.

“This will really drive our innovation going forward,” Stomp said, “and it’s very exciting to be so close to our customers here in the UK.”