Monday to Friday March 30th – April 3rd
The highlights of the week included visits to Greenvale, Bartletts, more retail visits and a stop at the Farmer’s Club in London.
I visited with Variety Development Manager James Thorburn at Greenvale. Greenvale ( www.greenvale.co.uk ) is a leading UK supplier of fresh potatoes. They were founded over 50 years ago. They have expanded over the years through organic growth and acquisitions that have helped them not only to extend their scale and geographical reach, but also the diversity of product offering and services they supply.
Greenvale are vertically integrated throughout the fresh potato supply chain that includes involvement with research, seed breeding, suppliers, growers (they have their own growing operations too that includes the Isle of Jersey where prized “Jersey Royals” are produced), customers and consumers. They are also involved with the production of daffodils and bulbs.
Greenvale has three packing sites and a processing site strategically located in key growing regions. They also have a number of trader locations.
Greenvale’s key success factors include consumer focused supply of quality assured potatoes, working partnerships, innovation, seed/agronomy/technical services, strong social and environmental commitment and Greenvale Brand growth.
I am very appreciative of the time that James allowed me to discuss Greenvale. I was very impressed with the company’s investment in consumer focused seed development and research that have brought at least 5 new varieties to market. They have also invested in building the Greenvale brand as well as value added products (Swancote). It is obvious that these are some of their key factors for future success.
I visited with John Hicks and Alex Bartlett of Albert Bartletts at their location in Airdrie, Lanarkshire ( www.albertbartlett.com ). We were joined at lunch by Paddy Graham Jones, Technical & Procurement Manager for a good discussion about the business followed by a tour of the impressive packing facilities by John and Alex.
Albert Bartlett was established in 1948 and is now a leading supplier of fresh potatoes in the UK. They are a family business that supplies over 500,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes every year. I was very impressed with the equipment, the scale and capacity of the packhouse facility. As well, the rainwater capturing system as a water source for the packing line.
In the spring of 2009 Bartlett’s opened a state of the art pack-house in Jersey, where the prized “Jersey Royal” is grown. Bartlett’s potatoes have been provided by a network of dedicated growers that date back over three generations.
Bartlett’s work together with their growers on improving agronomic production and storage practices. A key success factor has been working with leading seed breeders in the development of new and exclusive varieties. Bartlett has several examples of exclusive varieties they have brought to market.
The Albert Bartlett Rooster is the UK’s leading fresh vegetable brand and Europe’s fastest growing. Several advertising campaigns since 2005 that included 3 with Hollywood actress Marcia Cross have promoted Albert Bartlett’s Rooster. They have had other promotional partnerships with Disney and Chef Ambassadors. They also work with schools on business and enterprise education projects.
I am very appreciative of the time that John and Alex provided to discuss their business. It is very obvious that Bartlett’s are committed to a differentiation strategy that is built around premium quality, exclusive varieties and a strong brand.
As time allowed this week on my journey back South to London, I managed to make some more retail visits. In general, the potato displays are better merchandised than in Canada and packaging is easier to navigate than back home. As well, the fresh potatoes are dominated by store brand private labels. Tesco, is the largest retailer in the UK. ASDA, Sainsburys and Morrisons also have large shares. Other retailers include Co-op, Waitrose, Lidl, Iceland, Aldi and M&S.
I have arrived in London for the last few days of my Study tour. On Thursday & Friday I visited the Royal Botanical Gardens and “The Farmer’s Club”. Before I leave I plan to visit the “Covent Market” and some more retail stores.
- General Notes of the UK (Great Britain) Fresh Sector:Approximately 65 million people in the UK.
- There are 121,000 ha of potatoes.
- Average potato yield is approximately 45 tons / ha.
- 46% fresh, 12% fresh chipping, 28% processing and 14% seed
- Long history of potato production.
- 2150 producers. Trend is fewer larger producers.
- Most of fresh packing is done by 5 major packers - Bartletts, Greenvale, Branstons, Manorfresh and Produce World.
- Retail sales dominated by Tesco, ASDA, Sainsburys and Morrisons.
- Poly packaging in Retail store brands dominate.
- Significant challenge is declining consumption.
- High retail prices and short supply from 2012 potato crop had significant negative impact on consumption.
- Strengths are innovation, size and scale of packers, exclusive proprietary varieties, branding, promotion of healthy attributes of potatoes and the development of value added products that offer greater consumer convenience.
- I have a significant amount of data, information and insight from leaders in the fresh sector to help prepare my project report.
It is hard to believe I am already in week 6 of my project study tour and will be heading home in a couple days. It has been a heck of a tour. I have met many interesting people and have learned lots. My perspective on the potato industry has broadened. I have enjoyed the experience of the last few weeks. Having said that, it will be nice to return home!
The highlights of the week included visits to Greenvale, Bartletts, more retail visits and a stop at the Farmer’s Club in London.
I visited with Variety Development Manager James Thorburn at Greenvale. Greenvale ( www.greenvale.co.uk ) is a leading UK supplier of fresh potatoes. They were founded over 50 years ago. They have expanded over the years through organic growth and acquisitions that have helped them not only to extend their scale and geographical reach, but also the diversity of product offering and services they supply.
Greenvale are vertically integrated throughout the fresh potato supply chain that includes involvement with research, seed breeding, suppliers, growers (they have their own growing operations too that includes the Isle of Jersey where prized “Jersey Royals” are produced), customers and consumers. They are also involved with the production of daffodils and bulbs.
Greenvale has three packing sites and a processing site strategically located in key growing regions. They also have a number of trader locations.
Greenvale’s key success factors include consumer focused supply of quality assured potatoes, working partnerships, innovation, seed/agronomy/technical services, strong social and environmental commitment and Greenvale Brand growth.
I am very appreciative of the time that James allowed me to discuss Greenvale. I was very impressed with the company’s investment in consumer focused seed development and research that have brought at least 5 new varieties to market. They have also invested in building the Greenvale brand as well as value added products (Swancote). It is obvious that these are some of their key factors for future success.
I visited with John Hicks and Alex Bartlett of Albert Bartletts at their location in Airdrie, Lanarkshire ( www.albertbartlett.com ). We were joined at lunch by Paddy Graham Jones, Technical & Procurement Manager for a good discussion about the business followed by a tour of the impressive packing facilities by John and Alex.
Albert Bartlett was established in 1948 and is now a leading supplier of fresh potatoes in the UK. They are a family business that supplies over 500,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes every year. I was very impressed with the equipment, the scale and capacity of the packhouse facility. As well, the rainwater capturing system as a water source for the packing line.
In the spring of 2009 Bartlett’s opened a state of the art pack-house in Jersey, where the prized “Jersey Royal” is grown. Bartlett’s potatoes have been provided by a network of dedicated growers that date back over three generations.
Bartlett’s work together with their growers on improving agronomic production and storage practices. A key success factor has been working with leading seed breeders in the development of new and exclusive varieties. Bartlett has several examples of exclusive varieties they have brought to market.
The Albert Bartlett Rooster is the UK’s leading fresh vegetable brand and Europe’s fastest growing. Several advertising campaigns since 2005 that included 3 with Hollywood actress Marcia Cross have promoted Albert Bartlett’s Rooster. They have had other promotional partnerships with Disney and Chef Ambassadors. They also work with schools on business and enterprise education projects.
I am very appreciative of the time that John and Alex provided to discuss their business. It is very obvious that Bartlett’s are committed to a differentiation strategy that is built around premium quality, exclusive varieties and a strong brand.
As time allowed this week on my journey back South to London, I managed to make some more retail visits. In general, the potato displays are better merchandised than in Canada and packaging is easier to navigate than back home. As well, the fresh potatoes are dominated by store brand private labels. Tesco, is the largest retailer in the UK. ASDA, Sainsburys and Morrisons also have large shares. Other retailers include Co-op, Waitrose, Lidl, Iceland, Aldi and M&S.
I have arrived in London for the last few days of my Study tour. On Thursday & Friday I visited the Royal Botanical Gardens and “The Farmer’s Club”. Before I leave I plan to visit the “Covent Market” and some more retail stores.
- General Notes of the UK (Great Britain) Fresh Sector:Approximately 65 million people in the UK.
- There are 121,000 ha of potatoes.
- Average potato yield is approximately 45 tons / ha.
- 46% fresh, 12% fresh chipping, 28% processing and 14% seed
- Long history of potato production.
- 2150 producers. Trend is fewer larger producers.
- Most of fresh packing is done by 5 major packers - Bartletts, Greenvale, Branstons, Manorfresh and Produce World.
- Retail sales dominated by Tesco, ASDA, Sainsburys and Morrisons.
- Poly packaging in Retail store brands dominate.
- Significant challenge is declining consumption.
- High retail prices and short supply from 2012 potato crop had significant negative impact on consumption.
- Strengths are innovation, size and scale of packers, exclusive proprietary varieties, branding, promotion of healthy attributes of potatoes and the development of value added products that offer greater consumer convenience.
- I have a significant amount of data, information and insight from leaders in the fresh sector to help prepare my project report.
It is hard to believe I am already in week 6 of my project study tour and will be heading home in a couple days. It has been a heck of a tour. I have met many interesting people and have learned lots. My perspective on the potato industry has broadened. I have enjoyed the experience of the last few weeks. Having said that, it will be nice to return home!