Pilgrim’s Europe launches pork innovation hub in Bromborough, UK
Investment targets product development and customer collaboration in pork division
UK – Pilgrim’s Europe has inaugurated a new Pork Centre of Excellence at its Bromborough facility in the UK, following a US$427,000 (£350,000) investment to advance innovation and accelerate new product creation in its pork business.
The centre is equipped with a contemporary development kitchen designed to support the efficient production of fresh, value-added pork products.
Specialist tools at the site include an indoor charcoal barbecue for testing and presenting barbecue product ranges, alongside a dry ageing unit designed to align with future pork innovations.
A dedicated customer panelling area allows the company to conduct tastings, workshops, and product trials with both retail and foodservice partners, bringing clients closer to the development process from concept to finished product.
The Bromborough facility will focus on pork and added-value pork products, with particular attention to segments such as ready-to-cook meals and barbecue offerings, where market growth is currently strong.
Ivan Siqueira, president of Pilgrim’s Europe, said the centre is part of the company’s wider strategy to establish specialised innovation hubs across its different business units.
Sam Reader, director of product and innovation at Pilgrim’s Europe, said the combination of modern kitchen facilities, specialist equipment, and customer collaboration spaces allows teams to rapidly move ideas from concept to production while testing new flavours, formats, and product concepts with partners.
Pilgrim’s Europe operates more than 40 sites across the UK, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands, employing over 17,000 staff across poultry, pork, lamb, and beef supply chains.
The company supplies a mixture of own-label and branded products to retail and foodservice markets, focusing on fresh and prepared foods across multiple protein categories.
The new centre aligns with ongoing trends in the pork sector, providing a space for innovation in ready-to-cook and barbecue categories while enabling direct engagement with key customers.
By integrating product development, testing, and client collaboration under one roof, Pilgrim’s Europe aims to shorten the timeline between initial concept and market launch for new pork products.
The Bromborough hub represents the latest step in the company’s efforts to modernise its product innovation capabilities across Europe, with future plans for similar centres in other business areas.
This investment is expected to support the company’s response to shifting consumer preferences and demand for diverse pork offerings in retail and foodservice channels.
The centre also provides Pilgrim’s Europe with a platform to demonstrate the versatility of pork across various culinary formats, enabling more targeted product launches in growth segments.
Overall, the facility reflects the company’s approach to combining technology, customer insight, and product development to maintain competitiveness in the European protein market.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
