Potato producer Branston has kicked off a multi-million pound tranche of investments with the opening of a state of the art, environmentally friendly cold store.
Branston, one of the largest potato producers in the UK, has pledged to invest a total of £5m in its Lincolnshire site, with the cold store being the first of several planned improvements.
The cold store is 5,000 square metres, cost £2.1m, and is capable of holding 9,000 tonnes of potatoes. Designed by IMA cooling systems, the company’s passive system uses less than 25 percent of the power associated with normal long-term cooling systems.
As well as the new cold store, the company has improved its staff facilities, upgrading the site’s canteen, rest rooms, shower and toilet facilities; extended its dispatch areas, introducing new temperature controlled storage areas; and has built a new dedicated assembly line and installed a new packing line.
Nick Turnbull, the company’s rechnical director, said: “2008 is going to be a very busy year for Branston and we have to be sure we’re ready for it. We have secured greater volume for next year and so we’re going to be handling even more potatoes.”
“The jewel in our crown is truly the new cold store - which can house enough potatoes to produce 36 million meals. The fact that we need a cold store so big just goes to show how much people love eating spuds.”
Meanwhile the company has created the role of environmental manager.
Steve Bryan, previously Branston’s facilities assistant, has taken on the new role, where he will oversee the implementation, maintenance and control of the firm’s environmental management system. In particular, he will react to new environmental legislation, monitor and where possible reduce the company’s use of electricity, water and fuel.
“As a company we’re incredibly aware of the need to observe best practice in terms of the environment,” commented Bryan. “I’ve always had a keen interest in ‘green’ issues and so when the company offered me the role of environmental manager I jumped at the chance.”
The company has promised further investment before the end of the year.
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