Until 2013, Nationwide Produce's onion grading and packing were outsourced. With the expansion of the Richmond Farms grower group acreage and the farming operation, investing in an in-house onion production facility became the logical step. A state-of-the-art facility was established at a site in Long Sutton, Lincs, owned since 1995. The building was extended to 40,000 square feet on an eight-acre site, commencing onion grading and packing in October 2013.
By 2024, the Long Sutton facility reached maximum capacity, prompting a new investment program of about £5 million. This initiative aims to nearly double the building size to 75,000 square feet, alongside substantial investments in machinery and robotics.
The Group markets over 66,000 tons of onions annually, with the Richmond Farms grower group producing approximately 52,000 tons. The largest group member is Nationwide's farming operation, cultivating around 15,000 tons on 700 acres in East Anglia. The AGP site grades about 1,200 tons weekly and produces over half a million onion packs.
Due to the Group's comprehensive market involvement, a steady tonnage flows through the site, ensuring effective and efficient marketing of the whole crop from growers. The scale of onion growing and packing has fostered robust relationships with retailers, wholesalers, catering/food-service suppliers, and processors.
Source: Nationwide Produce
