OVENS & KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
One-stop shop FoodWorks SW is a dynamic, purpose-built facility supporting the growth of regional food & drink businesses in a variety of different ways. PRIME TIME If recent coverage on the BBC’s flagship programme, The One Show, is anything to go by, the FoodWorks SW Innovation Centre in Weston-Super-Mare is on an upward trajectory. As a centre for nurturing food & drink businesses in the South West, it provides technical support and expert advice – coupled with food-grade units, product development facilities and an engagement centre. It connects producers to collaborate and innovate, ultimately helping to create jobs.
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From concept to launch, operators can scale recipes – from 1kg to 100kg batches – while development kitchens have been built to include standard catering equipment, as well as specialist items linked to bakery, dairy, ready meal and drinks development. Open for five years, it’s owned by North Somerset Council, with Future Food Partnership running the site since September 2024. MIX IT UP Zoe Plant is new product development manager at FoodWorks SW. She started out as a chef in Suffolk, then moved to London aged 19, working her way through the ranks to sous chef. “I decided to do a degree in BSc Food and Nutrition,” said Plant. My dissertation was on developing baby food and looking at the differences between organic and non-organic ingredients, which
opened the doors to a career in food manufacturing as a development chef. I have developed products for various supermarkets, including M&S and Sainsbury’s, leading to my current role.” Which also brought Plant into close contact with the world of pizza making. “We have a planetary mixer which can take up to 30kg of dough at a time, and a spiral mixer which takes up to 50kg – also, there’s a Polin proving oven and double-deck oven. Plus, pizza will never go out of fashion. It’s forever evolving, from artisan gourmet to vegan, plantbased and dessert. Pop-Up Pizza Project has already taken advantage, making large volumes of dough. They also curated an event for FoodWorks SW. So, whether you’re a www.pizzapastamagazine.co.uk 03/04/2025 16:21