Client:

Valentine Food, a well-established catering business operating at Grove Business Park in Oxfordshire.

Challenge:

After several years trading successfully from a small, ageing trailer, Valentine Food had outgrown their setup. Known for high-quality food and service, the business had built a strong following — but their original unit no longer reflected the brand or met operational demands.

Grove Business Park was also investing in improved open spaces and amenities across the site. They saw the opportunity to create a new, more prominent and professional catering facility, with Valentine Food at its heart.

Solution:

We worked closely with the client and Grove Business Park to design and deliver a double-width container conversion, tailored to their exact needs. The final unit consists of two 20ft containers joined to create a 20ft x 16ft footprint, offering ample space for both front and back-of-house operations.

The layout was carefully planned to allow Valentine Food to serve a full breakfast and lunch menu, barista coffee and a self-serve salad bar, with the flexibility to handle corporate orders and catering for the wider community.

Front-of-house features include:

Back-of-house includes:

We fully insulated, lined, plumbed and wired the containers, installing a 3-phase electrical supply to support the catering equipment.

The containers were fabricated and kitted out in Corby, delivered to site, and installed ready for trade. The client then commissioned premium ash cladding and a custom seating area, completing the exterior to match the standard of the food.

Results:

Valentine Food now operates from a bright, functional, and professional catering unit that not only reflects the quality of their offer, but supports their continued growth.

The new unit sits proudly at the centre of Grove Business Park, serving both loyal customers and new visitors with a vastly improved kitchen and service layout.

The improved setup has helped Valentine Food increase throughput, enhance customer experience — all while staying true to its roots as a locally loved business.

Conclusion

This project is a great example of how a long-standing catering business can refresh its setup without losing its identity. With thoughtful design, robust build quality and careful collaboration, we helped Valentine Food make a confident step forward — ready to serve at scale and grow with the park.