Pictured: (l-r) Elina Grase, Duncan Gibbons and Simon
Barnett (all MWW)
A pioneering 'grower partnership' in the heart of
Worcestershire's Severn Valley is going from strength to strength
after a successful year.
Minor Weir and Willis (MWW) has brought six local growers
together to allow them to gain leverage into UK multiple retailers
through its existing supply contracts and distribution network.
The group of growers have all seen considerable increases in
turnover and new jobs during 2011, with MWW also benefitting from
extended seasons and reliable supply.
Simon Barnett, MWW's UK Growing Manager, commented:
"The concept has developed over a number of years and we are now
at the stage where we have a fabulous team of growers, which has
been complemented in the last twelve months with the purchase of
the first piece of land by the MWW Group in Worcestershire. Each
participant has complimentary skills and each wishes to buy in to
the knowledge-sharing element of the approach."
Barnett continued: "Between our six members and our own land, we
now have in excess of 2,000 acres within a fifteen mile area of
Worcestershire, with packing focussed around a central hub from
which much of our product is packed and distributed.
"We handle the commercial agreements with supermarkets directly,
leaving the growers to do what they do best…grow fantastic
tasting fruit and vegetables. The Group has expanded its UK growing
activities in recent years and we intend to continue to invest in
this area of the business."
The partnership currently produces more than ten different
products, ranging from salad onions and peas and beans to chillies,
courgettes and asparagus.
It is now also looking at extending this into non-traditional
areas, such as Pak Choi (widely used in Chinese cooking) and the
hugely popular sugar snap pea, which has become a staple part of
the offer into the UK School Fruit and Vegetable scheme.
Growing new products and extending seasons has meant a reduction
in imports; a welcome boost to reducing the Group's carbon
footprint as well as the UK's balance of trade.
Barnett picked up the story: "Consumers feel strongly about
local food, both as a statement of support for British farmers and
as an affirmation of freshness. We share that passion and feel this
partnership goes a long way towards delivering that message.
"In addition to helping create sustainable returns for local
farmers, the group also benefits from collective purchasing
agreements and dissemination of best practice via the MWW Technical
department.
"Recent group investments include a £500,000 new salad
onion packing line, as well as packing and agricultural
machinery."
Minor, Weir & Willis (MWW) employs more than 240 people at
its Birmingham headquarters and was recently listed as one of the
Daily Telegraph's top 1000 companies to lead the UK out of
recession.
The company has expanded rapidly in the last ten years to become
a major European Food Group, with operations in Holland, Spain and
Germany.
It is also a key partner in the UK School Fruit and Vegetable
scheme, delivering to over 300,000 key stage one pupils at 2,000
schools.