Bakkavör expands with help from Chalcroft ConstructionChalcroft

Construction, with its industry-leading food projects division, is continuing to provide its expertise and knowledge to Bakkavör Group.In the latest in of a number of projects for the Icelandic company, Chalcroft is extending the premises of Bakkavör-owned Isleport Foods, in Highbridge, Somerset, which produces a range of chilled desserts for the major UK supermarkets.Not only does the multi-million-pound project involve doubling the size of the production floor, it also includes the refurbishment of the existing building – all being completed without any disruption to production.John Hanson, Bakkavör project manager for the site, commented: “We had to expand the premises as we are working at full capacity. This really is a case study in logistics – with several phases being drawn up so that everyone knows where they are and when.”It's not just a new build or refurbishment, it's both and it's therefore crucial that production is not hit. The first stage is about the new-build extension but then this has to be joined up to the existing factory. There is also some work to install new amenities and offices.Scheduled to last 58 weeks, the Isleport project architect is RPS Burks Green, from Newark, while the quantity surveyor is Davis Langdon, Peterborough, and the engineering consultant is Lancashire-based Rigby and Partners.Chalcroft's operations director, Scott Wilson, commented: “As principal contractors, it is our role to ensure that the client's project is finished on time and in budget. In projects like this, we have to ensure that there is no disruption to the work of the production staff, so organisation and teamwork is absolutely essential.
“We are delighted that Bakkavor has once again chosen Chalcroft to undertake the extension and refit programme and hope that we can help support the company's growth in the future.”
With its in-house management teams and highly-experienced workforce, together with specialist consultants, Chalcroft Construction has a growing reputation for using its ethos of teamwork and partnership to complete food projects on time and within budget.
Other projects that Chalcroft has been involved with include the design and construction of a food processing plant in Ebbw Vale for Zorba Foods, and the conversion of an existing curtain factory into a high-care salad factory in Wigan for Hazeldene Foods.