A 40-year partnership delivering Tesco carrots

Huntpac has been working with Tesco for over 40 years. It’s a long relationship that is now into its 4th generation. They tell the story of how they've delivered Tesco customers their carrots and parsnips for the past four decades.

Improving quality
Their carrots and parsnips start with fertile plains. With access to fresh water, a dedicated team of crop managers monitor a national growing model across the UK. They use their expertise to ensure the selection of the best land in which to grow carrots and parsnips. Over their 40 years of business they have gained knowledge into how to lift the crop out of the ground at the correct temperature. From experience they can be assured to harvest all crops at the right time throughout the year. In warmer weather this includes harvesting at night. At packhouses, workers wash and pack the produce at the same time. This is to reduce the handling the carrots have to endure.

In the lead up to the Christmas period when the weather turns chilly they must identify the best fields, close to the pack houses. Using thin plastic and straw they cover the crop to insulate the growing carrots.

Reducing food waste
Their mineral enrichment project helps protect the soils used for growing. They identify what soils are the best at a given time to ensure the soil is used to its full potential. They bring the soil back to the natural balance mineral state, which optimises the field yield and reduces potential wastage on the farm. In the packhouse they’ve moved to washing and packing in one swift system. Once done their excess edible crop is saved and sent to charities.

Transportation
According to the company a key part of the history of Huntapac has been the development of their transport fleet. Huntpac transports all their own produce across the UK directly to Tesco. They have 110 refrigerated trailers which deliver produce to Tesco.

Transport means so much to the company that they even restored 34 of their classic vehicles which are now located in the company museum.

They look towards a future of cleaner trucks and are now trialling a truck with reduced carbon emissions. You’ll be able to spot their Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered truck on-the-roads soon.

Tesco Customer Services
Freepost SCO2298
Dundee DD1 9NF
Tel : +44 0 800 505555
customer.service@tesco.co.uk
www.tescoplc.com