Guenther Bakeries UK Limited is expanding its UK operations after signing a lease with Goodman for 106,000 sq ft of high-specification warehouse space at Lyons Park, Coventry.
The company is part of Texas-headquartered C.H. Guenther & Son (CHG) Inc, a leading international supplier of bakery products to restaurants and food retailers that employs more than 4,000 people across 29 locations in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. The Lyons 106 facility marks the division’s fourth UK site and first in the Midlands.
Set to be fully operational in the first half of 2023, it will support Guenther Bakeries to fulfil a contract supplying baked goods to well-known global brands, creating up to 100 new jobs in the local area.
Strategically placed at the heart of the Midlands, with fast access to the M42, M6 and M1 and within easy reach of the A45 trunk road linking Coventry and Birmingham, the facility is ideally suited for the production, storage and distribution of fresh baked goods, supported by a skilled local workforce.
Lyons 106 is designed to a BREEAM Excellent specification and is targeting an EPC ‘A’ rating. Supporting Guenther Bakeries’ environmental commitments to reduce electricity, natural gas and water intensity and reach a target of zero waste to landfill, Lyons 106 is highly sustainable, including a full rooftop array of solar PV, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and a water recycling system.
Construction is set to complete later this month, with Guenther Bakeries undertaking a substantial fit out. The global supplier has also partnered with leading equipment manufacturers to enable the production of high quality products. This significant investment underlies Guenther Bakeries’ commitment to the region.
John Buckles, President and CEO of CHG, said:
“CHG is committed to high-quality products. Sustainability and flexibility were key considerations for us when looking for our latest facility, as we required a site that would support our global environmental and sustainability commitments, which was a key driver in securing our customer contract.
“Goodman’s Lyons 106 development was the ideal choice, blending a strategic location with high-quality, sustainable facilities, and equipped with the latest technology. This will support our mission to continue to innovate both our products and our business and to respond to changing customer needs.”
Coventry is an established industrial, logistics and manufacturing hub, offering a large talent pool of 25,000 people employed in manufacturing, transportation and storage.** Guenther Bakeries joins a number of leading companies operating from Lyons Park, including Amazon and Jaguar Land Rover.
Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Goodman, commented:
“Delivering high-quality, sustainable properties in strategic locations like Coventry is a key focus for Goodman, so working with customers like Guenther Bakeries that share our values is key.
“At Lyons Park, we’re able to deliver space that not only supports Guenther Bakeries’ sustainability goals, but its next phase of growth, where Coventry’s strategic location and access to a skilled local workforce will drive operational efficiency in fulfilling the needs of one of its largest customers. We also look forward to seeing the positive effects that Guenther Bakeries’ arrival will have locally, including providing up to 100 new jobs.”
Jean-Charles Philippon, Managing Director for CHG in Europe, said:
“Goodman’s ethos and commitment to quality mirrors our own, and we believe its Lyons 106 development will become a key asset in CHG’s European growth.”