A three-year exclusive marketing arrangement for the strawberry crops previously grown by Polehouse Nurseries has been taken on by CPM Retail Ltd.
The Norfolk site, which is at the forefront of glasshouse and table-top production in the UK, is now operated by Simply Strawberries Ltd.
The move will secure production at the site after a period of uncertainty, following the decision of Polehouse Nurseries, owned by Peter Wensak, to enter into voluntary administration in August last year.
The business was said to owe nearly £6 million, but Wensak insisted, at the time, that the company remained a viable business.
Staff were made redundant when the firm entered administration, but the majority were re-employed when the business began trading as Phoenix Berry Farms, under a temporary licence, to allow the crop to be harvested.
The three-year deal marks a significant expansion for CPM.
The 800-tonne production on the site will increase its UK offer by a third, and build on the shoulders of the season.
This will be the first year that CPM starts its UK supply in March.
CPM director Paul Kidd told FPJ that he is on the look-out for a retail partner.
He said: “We have been able to effectively take over the farm and hold a licence to grow on the site. The plants and infrastructure are all there and it is very well-known production in the industry and, as far an the financiers were concerned, the business needed to be continued.
“This will mean a fairly big expansion in our UK offer and it will add a top-quality third to what we already supply.
“We are smaller than most of the soft-fruit marketing desks, with smaller customers, but now we will be seeking a higher-end retail partner.
“Peter Wensak will be in the background, in an advisory role.”
The arrangement has secured the jobs of the 10 permanent members of staff that were originally employed by Polehouse Nurseries.
The team, including pickers, will expand to some 200 at the peak of the UK season.
CPM has its head office and packhouse in Maidstone, which will remain unchanged, and it will continue to work with 18 growers across the UK, as well as import product to maintain year-round supply.
No plans have been made beyond the three-year arrangement as yet.
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