Real Good Food (RGF) has launched a new innovation centre and cake decoration academy in Wavertree, Liverpool.

The Liverpool Development Centre and Academy will be the base of product development for all the company’s brands, which include Haydens Bakery. The facility also includes an innovation centre fitted with high-quality bakery equipment and technology.

Meanwhile, The Renshaw Academy will teach the latest techniques in cake decorating to students and professionals from around the world and aims to partner with Liverpool City College.

According to the company, the academy will tap into growing demand for cake decoration and the first students will begin learning in July.

The Wavertree site will also become the northern hub of the group, serving as a regional headquarters and housing the group HR, technical and operations teams.

"experts can explore"

Pieter Totté, executive chairman at RGF, said: “We are always looking for ways to be innovative and the Real Good Food Liverpool Development Centre is a place where our experts can explore, create, teach and learn, with some of the best equipment in the world. There is a growing global market for our products and we want customers to be inspired to bake at home with our top-of-the-range, creative ingredients.

“We have a long and proud association with the city of Liverpool and its people and, through our Renshaw factory, have been a major employer here for many years. The Development Centre is an important initiative and investment for us and I can think of no better city in which to base this world-leading facility.”

Recently, RGF-owned bakery ingredients manufacturer Renshaw entered into a partnership with IT-specialist PCMS Group.