The first session in Scarborough was hosted at the GB headquarters of McCain Foods. As the largest UK purchaser of potatoes, McCain utilises 15% of the annual crop to supply its French fry and potato speciality production lines in the UK.
From 1974 to 2013, the volume consumption of processed potatoes grew 104% from 119g per person per week to 242g. The frozen potato market continues to grow and was one of the strongest performing frozen categories in 2014.
“The combination of convenience, value for money ( frozen products leading to less waste) and a strong product development programme has kept potatoes relevant and contemporary for consumers,” said Next Generation delegate and McCain fieldsperson, Matt Stubbings. “McCain continuously invests in product innovation, which in recent years has included our Ready Baked Jackets and the likes of Peri Peri fries.”
“Right from the very beginning, the McCain brothers who founded the company in 1957 believed that if you don’t get the agronomy right, you can’t produce the right product,” noted Matt. “In GB we work closely with over 300 potato growers and our highly-skilled agronomists and field team play a key role in ensuring the very best crop is harvested for our products.”
The second session was hosted by RS Cockerill, in Dunnington near York. This focused on the GB crisping market, worth £914 million in annual retail sales.RS Cockerill has expanded rapidly and supplies around 100,000 tonnes of crisping potatoes to Walkers each year, representing one out of every six packs sold in the UK.
Martin Cockerill, its Managing Director explained how the business developed from growing and trading potatoes and carrots in the 1930’s.
Year round potato supply is a key area. “Achieving reliable and consistent raw material to our customers 365 days a year is vital, “ said RS Cockerill fieldsperson and Next Generation delegate, Victoria Oaks. “A tuber is living and respiring, it requires lots of attention field and store.”
The group were shown innovative solutions to box layout and air flow to achieve successful sprout suppression and energy efficiency in long term storage.
Victoria Oaks (left) and Matt Stubbings (right).
In June, the Next Generation group will be hosted by Tong Engineering and Grimme UK in Lincolnshire.
Further more information:
Jim Davies
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
Tel: +44 024 7647 8786
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk