Re-organisation at Produce World
All the group’s own farming will come under PW Burgess Farms and there will be individual managers for each crop. It will control all growing and harvesting operations. The brassica division will come under PW Butterwick, which will have the strength of the overall group, but the independence and autonomy required in this rapidly moving marketplace. The remaining business incorporating roots, potatoes and alliums will operate as Produce World.
The leaders of these divisions will report into Executive Chairman Neil Fraser, who will continue to head up the group. Jason Burgess will be Managing Director of PW Burgess Farms, and William Burgess will be Chief Executive of Produce World. The Managing Director of PW Butterwick will be David Betts-Gray, who comes to the business with direct experience of fast-moving fresh produce industries similar to brassicas.
William Burgess said: “We believe that this new way of working will make the business even more responsive to the needs of our customers and sustainable for the future to the benefit of customers, colleagues and shareholders. The new structure will provide simpler, more efficient and responsive reporting lines.
“For PW Butterwick it will provide a degree of autonomy and independence which is necessary in the rapidly moving brassicas market. As a result of the work we have done during the past three years, this part of the business is much stronger, and that has enabled us to make these changes now."
“Farming is an increasingly important part of our business, and separating farming into its own division is a reflection of this. All three divisions will benefit from the continuing strength of the overall group. Produce World has always enjoyed very good relationships with its grower partners, while growing a proportion of its own vegetables, and this healthy mix will continue.”
