Ideas and how to set them up
Loose-leaf tea blending and packing
Blending and packing loose-leaf tea and herbal infusions is dry work that fits in a 150 or 160 sq ft unit, once you have registered as a food business and we have approved the use.
- Power needLow
- LayoutModerate
- Set-up costMedium
- Best unit150 sq ft or 160 sq ft
Blending loose-leaf teas and herbal infusions, then packing them into pouches or tins for online shops, markets and cafes.
Technical profile
Equipment that fits
- Food-grade airtight tubs or bins for each tea
- Stainless steel blending bowls and scoops
- Precision digital scale (0.1 g) and a larger bench scale
- Impulse bag sealer for foil or kraft pouches
- Label printer for ingredients and allergen labels
- Easy-clean stainless or laminate packing table
Power and utilities
Scales, a label printer and an impulse sealer run on standard sockets. An impulse sealer only heats briefly to close a bag; it does not cook or melt anything in bulk, but mention it when you ask us for approval.
Safety and site rules
Tea and dried herbs are dry goods with no cooking or heating. Food hygiene rules still apply: you need to register with Blackpool Council at least 28 days before trading, keep a food safety plan such as Safer Food, Better Business, and talk to the council about handwashing and cleaning facilities. Water is in the shared facilities, so ask us what arrangements suit your setup before you commit.
Floor plan
- Vertical racking
- Sealed tubs of each tea on shelving off the floor, sorted so ingredients with allergens sit on their own shelf. Packaging and finished stock go on separate shelves from open ingredients.
- Mobile benches
- Keep one fixed clean table for open food. A wheeled table next to it handles labelling, boxing and dispatch, so packaging work never happens on the food surface.
- Flow of goods
- Ingredients come in through the door, are checked against the delivery note and stored in sealed tubs. Blends are weighed and mixed on the clean table, packed and sealed, labelled at the wheeled table, then boxed on a dispatch shelf by the door.
Launch checklist
Start-up supplies
- Food-grade tubs
- Scales
- Bag sealer
- Pouches and labels
- Cleaning kit and blue roll
- Food safety plan and records
- Batch log
Insurance to discuss
Products liability is important when people consume what you sell. Ask a broker about that, stock cover and public liability. Employers' liability is a legal requirement in most cases once you take on staff.
Small business insurance guide
- Good to know
- Register with Blackpool Council at least 28 days before you start trading, and ask us before you commit.
Spice and dried herb blending
Spice blends and dried herbs can be weighed and packed in a 150 or 180 sq ft unit, with careful dust control and allergen labelling.
- Power needLow
- LayoutModerate
- Set-up costMedium
- Best unit150 sq ft or 180 sq ft
Weighing, blending and jarring spice mixes, rubs and dried herbs for retail and wholesale customers.
Technical profile
Equipment that fits
- Food-grade sealed containers
- Stainless steel blending bowls and scoops
- Precision and bench scales
- Grinder for small batches (ask us first)
- Jars or pouches and an impulse sealer
- Label printer
Power and utilities
Scales, a small grinder and a sealer run on standard sockets.
Safety and site rules
No heating or cooking is involved. Some spice ingredients are among the 14 major allergens, including celery, mustard and sesame, so keep them separate and label them clearly. Fine powders create dust, so work in small batches and clean down after each one. Register with the council and ask us before you start.
Floor plan
- Vertical racking
- Sealed containers on shelving by ingredient, with allergen ingredients kept on their own shelf. Finished jars boxed on a separate rack.
- Mobile benches
- A fixed clean table for open spices and a wheeled labelling and packing table that moves next to it for each batch.
- Flow of goods
- Ingredients come in, are logged and stored. Each batch is weighed, blended, filled and sealed on the clean table, labelled on the wheeled table, then stored for dispatch near the door.
Launch checklist
Start-up supplies
- Containers
- Scales
- Jars or pouches
- Labels
- Cleaning kit
- Food safety records
- Batch log
- Good to know
- Celery, mustard and sesame are among the 14 major allergens, so label blends carefully.
Pre-roasted coffee packing
Bagging and selling coffee that is already roasted can work in a 150 or 160 sq ft unit. Roasting itself is not allowed, because it involves heat.
- Power needLow
- LayoutSimple
- Set-up costMedium
- Best unit150 sq ft or 160 sq ft
Buying coffee already roasted, then grinding, bagging and labelling it under your own brand.
Technical profile
Equipment that fits
- Sealed bins for whole beans
- Commercial grinder for ground coffee
- Scale for weighing bags
- Valve bags and an impulse sealer
- Label printer
Power and utilities
A commercial grinder, scales and a sealer run on standard sockets.
Safety and site rules
Our units do not allow roasting or any cooking, so buy your coffee already roasted from a roaster. Packing beans and grinding are dry processes. You still need to register as a food business and keep food safety records.
Floor plan
- Vertical racking
- Sealed bins of beans on shelving off the floor, empty bags and labels on a separate shelf, and finished bags boxed by blend.
- Mobile benches
- A wheeled grinder stand lets you move between whole-bean and ground orders without crossing the packing area.
- Flow of goods
- Roasted beans arrive in sealed bags, go to bins, are weighed and bagged (or ground and bagged), sealed, labelled and placed on the dispatch shelf by the door.
Launch checklist
Start-up supplies
- Bean bins
- Grinder
- Scale
- Valve bags
- Sealer
- Labels
- Good to know
- Roasting is not allowed in our units because it involves heat. Packing roasted beans is a dry process.
Hampers and pre-packed gift boxes
Hampers made from pre-packed food, sweets and gifts, including Blackpool rock, fit in a 180 or 300 sq ft unit with room for seasonal stock.
- Power needLow
- LayoutModerate
- Set-up costLow
- Best unit180 sq ft or 300 sq ft
Building hampers and gift boxes from pre-packed foods, sweets and gifts, including Blackpool rock, for Christmas and corporate orders.
Technical profile
Equipment that fits
- Shelving for pre-packed stock by best-before date
- Long assembly table
- Hamper baskets and boxes
- Shredded paper fill
- Cellophane and ribbon
Power and utilities
A label printer and laptop on standard sockets.
Safety and site rules
Pre-packed foods stay sealed in their packaging, so there is no open food handling. You usually still need to register as a food business. Rotate stock by best-before date, and only include alcohol if you have the right licence.
Floor plan
- Vertical racking
- Pre-packed food on shelving, oldest dates at the front, baskets stacked high, fill and ribbon in boxes.
- Mobile benches
- Folding or wheeled tables become an assembly line in the run-up to Christmas and fold away in quiet months.
- Flow of goods
- Stock arrives through the shutter and is shelved by date. Hampers are assembled on the table, wrapped, and stacked by the door for delivery.
Launch checklist
Start-up supplies
- Shelving
- Assembly tables
- Baskets and boxes
- Fill and wrapping
- Labels
Insurance to discuss
Products liability, stock cover and goods in transit if you deliver are worth raising with a broker.
Small business insurance guide
- Good to know
- Pre-packed foods stay sealed. You usually still need to register as a food business.
Dried flower studio
Dried flower bouquets, wreaths and arrangements need hanging space and a workbench, which fit in a 150 or 160 sq ft unit.
- Power needLow
- LayoutModerate
- Set-up costLow
- Best unit150 sq ft or 160 sq ft
Making dried flower bouquets, wreaths and arrangements for weddings, shops and online orders.
Technical profile
Equipment that fits
- Hanging rails or freestanding drying racks
- Workbench
- Floristry tools and wire
- Shelving for stems by type
- Packing boxes
Power and utilities
Lighting and a dehumidifier on standard sockets, if needed.
Safety and site rules
Dried flowers are dry, low-risk material, but they catch light easily, so keep them well away from heaters and lamps. Dried flowers are not food, so food rules do not apply unless you add edible items.
Floor plan
- Vertical racking
- Stems on shelving by type and colour, bunches hung on rails, and finished arrangements boxed on upper shelves.
- Mobile benches
- A wheeled work table lets you switch between making wreaths and packing orders.
- Flow of goods
- Stems come in, are sorted and stored, arranged on the bench, then boxed and stored by the door for dispatch or collection.
Launch checklist
Start-up supplies
- Rails and shelving
- Bench
- Tools and wire
- Ribbon
- Boxes
- Good to know
- Dried flowers catch light easily, so keep them well away from heaters and lamps.
Planning a small unit floor
Go up the walls, keep benches mobile and give goods one clear route from the door to the work area and back.
- Measure before you buy racking. Ask us for the height of the unit you are viewing, then choose shelving that uses it safely, fixed to the wall where the manufacturer says so.
- Heavy low, light high. Keep heavy stock and machines at or below waist height and light, bulky items on the top shelves.
- Lockable castors. Benches and rails on lockable wheels let one room switch between making, photographing and packing.
- One-way flow. Goods in at the door, work in the middle, finished orders back by the door. The 150, 180 and 300 sq ft units have roller shutters; the 160 sq ft unit has a security door.
- Sockets first. Put machines near sockets and avoid chaining extension leads.
Why our units suit dry goods & botanicals
- Dry ingredients, pre-packed goods and dried flowers involve no cooking, frying or melting, which keeps the risk low.
- A unit keeps food stock away from your home, pets and family kitchen, which makes hygiene and stock control simpler.
- Roller-shutter units make deliveries of sacks, cases and seasonal hamper stock easier, and tenants can receive mail at the unit.
- Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.
Not allowed in our units
Nothing that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, no flammable liquids or gases in bulk, and no car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval first.
Start-up checklist
- Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
- Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
- Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
- Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
- Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
- Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
- Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.
Questions
Can I run a food business from a unit?
Dry food packing may be possible, but cooking and hot food are not allowed, and every use needs our approval first. You also need to register with Blackpool Council at least 28 days before trading, and the council will look at your handwashing, cleaning and storage arrangements.
Can I roast coffee in a unit?
No. Roasting involves heating, which our units do not allow. You can buy coffee already roasted, then grind, bag and sell it.
Is there a sink in the unit?
Water is available in the shared facilities. Ask us on WhatsApp about the unit you are interested in and what arrangements would suit a food business, before you commit.
What is included in the rent?
Lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Tenants get 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities: a tea and coffee room, toilets and water.
Can I use the address on my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Tenants can use The Old Rock Factory, Keswick Road, Blackpool FY1 5PB as their business address on Google, so customers can find you without you putting your home address online.
Is there three-phase power?
No. Every unit has standard single-phase electricity, the same as a normal plug socket. Choose machines and tools that run on single-phase power.
What can't I do in a unit?
We do not allow anything that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, flammable liquids or gases in bulk, or car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval.
Official guidance
Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.
More business ideas
All business ideas · Online sellers & e-commerce · Textiles, leather & sewing · Makers & creative studios · Tech & repair workshops · Trades & business storage · Event & party hire · Market & fair traders · Furniture upcycling · Gardening & landscaping · Clubs & community groups · Mobile service businesses
