ProCook the UK's leading direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand, has opened its new distribution centre and head office on the outskirts of Gloucester.

And Punchline has been given an exclusive walkthrough of the new 167,000 sq ft site at St Modwen Business Park, just off Junction 12 of the M5.

The opening of the centre, which cost £4.5 million to fit out, marks a step change for the business's operations, housing high quality open plan office space with a variety of meeting options, for collaborative working, for up to 200 colleagues.

The new premises include a state-of-the-art photographic studio, as well as a new 3,100 sq ft showroom to display the company's range of high-quality cookware, kitchenware and tableware.

In addition, the new site will bring all of ProCook's stock back under one roof, improving product availability and operational efficiency and further supporting the customer experience both in store and online.

ProCook has been recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces™ for Wellbeing (2023) by Great Place to Work®, and recently received a Healthy workplace award in Gloucestershire.

As such, the new site also provides a range of facilities to support the wellbeing of colleagues, including a café with free food options, a gym and a dedicated wellbeing room.

ProCook CEO Daniel O'Neill said: "Having started ProCook as a family business from home over 25 years ago, I am really proud that we are at a stage where we have been able to create such a fantastic new home.

"This investment will support our continued growth and success by encouraging collaborative working among our colleagues, made easier by its extensive facilities.

"Being back under one roof will enhance the service and efficiency we pride ourselves in being able to offer our customers. At ProCook we aim to foster an environment where our colleagues can thrive - and they now have the best place in order to do this."

Mr O'Neill said they had a total of 1,400 stock lines with four main areas: cookware, knives, baking and cooking accessories and gadgets and dining.

"We design it, we get it produced and we sell it," he said.

With 58 stores, ProCook currently sells around 60% through retail and about 40% online.

Mr O'Neill said the pandemic had been "very exciting" ProCook but also probably their most challenging time. "One minute you thought you weren't going to sell anything and the next minute sales were going through the roof," he said.

Employing about 675 staff nationwide and about 150 in Gloucester, Mr O'Neill said employees tended to be back working in the office for two days a week at the moment with Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays busier and Mondays and Fridays tending to be quieter.

Among the local companies ProCook worked with on the build were architects Roberts Limbrick, Severnside Security and Space Group.

ProCook's new site is a great example of how the business places its environmental credentials at the core of its operations. The energy-efficient design of the building means it has been given a BREEAM excellent certification and EPC A rating, and includes many environmentally focused initiatives such as EV car chargers, solar panels and rainwater collection tanks that supply the building's sanitary system.

To see Part 2 of Punchline's ProCook walkthrough, click here 

For more information on ProCook, go to www.procook.co.uk