Fresca Group Limited, one of the UK’s largest fresh produce businesses, has increased its stake in the ownership of salad grower Thanet Earth. The group announced today it had acquired the shares currently held by joint venture partners, Rainbow Growers Group UK, for an undisclosed sum.
Speaking of the acquisition, Fresca CEO Martyn Fletcher said: “Post-Brexit, there has been increased demand for more UK-grown fresh produce to ensure food security in our own country. Given environmental pressures and the need for us all to continue to reduce our carbon footprint, our strategy is to continue to invest in the sustainable growing of protected crops.”
Thanet Earth Chairman Chris Mack said: “Wim Grootscholten of Rainbow Growers Group was the first person that we turned to when we took on this demanding project. He immediately recognized the potential to build a large-scale, totally modern glasshouse complex in the UK, growing a range of products. Thanet Earth would not have happened without Wim’s foresight and dedication since we set out on this together some 15 years ago. In the last 7 years, Rainbow UK has played an active and pivotal role in Thanet Earth’s growing success in the UK market. I am delighted with this strategic opportunity to invest further in the Thanet Earth business.”
Wim Grootscholten: “The time is right to hand over the responsibility of our investment in Thanet Earth to our long-established partner, Fresca Group. The business has strong development plans for the future, and I have every confidence that Fresca will continue to successfully lead the business, reinforcing Thanet Earth’s position as one of the country’s leading growers of protected salad crops.”
The business will now trade as Thanet Earth Peppers and will continue to be led by Pleun van Malkenhorst as Managing Director.
For more information: 
Nikki Churchill
Fresca Group
Email: Nikki.Churchill@frescagroup.co.uk
www.frescagroup.co.uk