Scotland-based potato producer Albert Bartlett is defying the tough UK season with a seven-figure investment in acquiring new land in Jersey.

The company told FPJ that it has bought a farm called Le Catelet, a “flexible” growing site on the north of the island with in excess of 50 acres of land.

John Heginbottom, Albert Bartlett’s sales and marketing director, said the purchase represents an exciting time for the potato supplier, with further investments into Jersey – where Bartlett already owns farming land on the west of the island – in the pipeline.

He said: “If other opportunities come up in Jersey we will definitely take a good, hard look at them.’”

Heginbottom admitted that 2012 was a difficult season for Jersey Royals and estimated that Bartlett’s crop came in at around 24,000 tonnes, down some 4,000 tonnes from the year before.

Despite the future plans, one industry source said he thought the investment was surprising following the difficult growing season for Jersey Royals. Producers have also suffered as retailers have promoted the crop heavily in recent years, lowering the perceived value of the premium product.

But Heginbottom remains optimistic about the investment, and believes that sales and production of the crop, affected by inconsistent weather, are on course to pick up next year.

“As a group, we grow over 6,000 vergees of potatoes. The new site will account for around two per cent of our entire production; the investment shows our continued commitment for the Jersey Royal brand,” Heginbottom explained.

It has been a difficult season for Bartlett, with wet weather putting its Scottish crop 25 per cent down on last year, leading Gillian Kynoch, development and innovation director, to claim 2012 had been the most difficult year for harvesting in recent decades.

Meanwhile, Albert Bartlett also revealed that it has signed up champion jockey AP McCoy as a brand ambassador. McCoy will promote the Rooster brand on his colours, and will also attend selected events on behalf of the company.

The announcement comes on the back of a new advertising campaign for Roosters, featuring Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe.

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