A growing Somerset business, which is at the cutting edge of food innovation, has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into a new base in a former village chapel.

The FSC Group has opened its new home in Flax Bourton, with hopes of expanding and adding to its list of clients.

The firm is one of the UK’s most prominent food-to-go development businesses, boasting a long list of high-profile customers including Shell, Dunelm, Thorntons and Debenhams.

It has moved into the former Farleigh Church, in Old Weston Road, after investing £750,000 to make it a ‘state-of-the-art innovation centre’.

The Cheddar-based firm’s 20-strong team of specialists will be working in Flax Bourton, tasked with researching and testing new food concepts.

FSC’s managing director James Simpson believes the new base will help the family business reach new levels.

He said: “Within the food-to-go sector one of the most important measurements of a company’s competence and success is how well it can innovate and come up with new product ideas.

“This new centre will be an important visual demonstration, not only of our commitment to, but also our competence in innovation.

“Our development chefs and new product development team will be based at the innovation centre and all customer presentations and development sessions will be held here.”

Mr Simpson believes the former church – which is equipped with a professional kitchen and a presentation suite – will encourage creativity.

He added: “New product development is one of the services we give to our existing clients but now the innovation centre is up and running it opens up further what we can do.

“For example, if a business wants support with new product development or would like to use the space for their own customer presentations, then the innovation centre allows us to do just that.

“It’s a hugely exciting time for our business and we can’t wait to demonstrate to current clients as well as new clients why The FSC Group is the go-to business in the food-to-go sector.”