Puratos UK has bolstered its blossoming portfolio of locally made products following the acquisition of the nation’s number one fruit grower and processor Fourayes.
The move underlines the bakery and patisserie ingredient specialist’s commitment to future generations through responsible, transparent and local sourcing. The Puratos local and transparent fruit sourcing programme aims to embed sustainability through the entire value chain, from sourcing of raw materials to usage of products by customers and consumers. Fourayes’ range of fruit fillings, industrial jams and mincemeat – all manufactured at its 100-acre orchard in Kent – will complement and enhance Puratos’ existing local fillings capabilities in Simonswood, further expanding the offer of locally-produced ingredients to customers.
Julia Darvill, Managing Director at Puratos UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to welcome Fourayes into the Puratos family and are excited to continue its proud legacy; supporting British farming, providing farm-to-fork transparency, and demonstrating exemplary ESG practices. Our relationship with Fourayes first took root back in February, when we partnered up to launch a unique range of real fruit and vegetable pieces, and in the succeeding months our connection has grown even deeper."
“We found Fourayes to be an ideal fit for Puratos, both being family-run, customer-focused, heritage-rich businesses with innovation, people and traceability at their core. We are committed to upholding and building on Fourayes’ reputation as a first-class farm and factory and look forward to a fruitful future.”
The Fourayes farm and factory are surrounded by English Bramley apple orchards, with fellow prestigious Red Tractor suppliers of British-grown fruits in close proximity. Its location in Kent makes it ideally placed for branching out to the European market, with potential opportunities to bring the Fourayes range to the wider Puratos Group. Phil Acock, Managing Director at Fourayes and third generation owner, will remain in a non-executive role at the company but will pass over ownership to Puratos on completion of the acquisition.
Puratos’ exclusive Taste Tomorrow research recently revealed that over a third of UK consumers now look for the inclusion of ‘power ingredients’, such as fruit, in their food and almost half (44%) wish to buy products that contain locally sourced ingredients. The research also found that 66% believe food made with local ingredients is better for the environment.
For more information:
Puratos UK office
Buckingham Industrial Park
Buckingham MK18 1XT
Tel.: +44 (0)1280 822860
Fax: +44 (0)1280 822857
info_uk@puratos.com