The 929m2 facility will enable more food manufacturers to freeze-store not only finished products, but also individual ingredients at the company’s 60,000 pallet depot.
It also boasts a technology imported from America called ‘up-tempering’, which raises the temperature of food from -18°C to -3°C in under three minutes.
The food can be ‘up-tempered’ to the required temperature, before being delivered to a client ready for production.
According to Rick Bestwick, microwave up-tempering technology brings finished retail packs from a frozen state to chilled within minutes. The process maintains the original packaging of products, minimises drip loss and offers full traceability at all stages, it claimed.
The technology was said to be used successfully with many products, ranging from chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork and fish; through to bread, cakes, soups, vegetables and party foods.
Biggest of its kind in Europe
Kevin Hancock, md of Rick Bestwick, said: “We are proud to have completed this landmark investment. It is the biggest facility of its kind in Europe and will ensure we can provide an unrivalled service for customers.
“The demand for value-added services – including up-tempering, blast freezing, date-coding, labelling and packaging – is greater than ever before. Rick Bestwick has a core principle of listening to its customers and delivering what they need, and this development is testament to that.
“With our heritage in food manufacture, Rick Bestwick knows the challenges and requirements of food production. Our up-tempering facilities will help manufacturers control seasonal demand, quality, and peaks and troughs of production whilst reducing waste and driving efficiencies.”
Rick Bestwick, is a member of the Magnavale family of independent coldstore companies, which also includes Rick Bestwick (North), Lancaster Coldstore and CM North West. Magnavale also has a partnership with DFDS Logistics, which sees the European supply chain giant provide all of the group’s transport services.