A contractor in Gloucester has begun work on food and drink brand Oatly’s first factory in the UK.
ISD Solutions specialises in the development of composite panel-based structures such as cold stores. The company has previously installed chilled facilities for supermarkets including Asda and Waitrose at their stores and distribution centres.
The firm has now been appointed by IFP Construction to supply and install more than 45,000 square metres of panels at Swedish dairy alternative brand Oatly’s new site in Peterborough.
When completed next next year, the facility will be one of the world’s largest plant-based dairy alternative factories, with the capacity to produce 300 million litres of oat milk per year.
ISD, which is based at 125 Business Park off Llanthony Road in Gloucester, said its work on the project is due to be finished in mid-October.
The panels will be completed with steel trims supplied by ISD’s factory, with fixings, sealants and other items supplied by the company’s network of strategic partners.
Two project managers and two site managers will oversee the implementation of work planned by ISD’s in-house design team.
The fitout will be completed by Leicestershire-based cold store firm S. Tysoe Installations, recently acquired by ISD Solutions’ parent company The P&M Group, with full support from ISD’s senior management team.
Tony Wall, managing director of ISD, said the project was an opportunity to demonstrate the company’s ability to support “sustainable and eco-friendly” industries.
Mr Wall said: “We’ve been talking for a while about the need to change the culture in our industry, avoiding the pitfalls of cutting corners and the inherent dangers of focusing on short-term profits to the detriment of a long-term vision.
“For us, sustainable business is about creating work and fostering relationships which last well beyond the immediate project. It’s about embracing a culture of quality, longevity and great performance.”
“So we’re happy that IFP Construction also recognises the importance of these values and we’re looking forward to starting our element of this project.”
Last year ISD forecast “major growth” after securing several large construction contracts for distribution centres during the pandemic. The company reported turnover had risen from under £34m in 2018 to £46m for its previous financial year, which closed at the end of January.
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