Fresh launch for Anona

A fresh produce company is aiming at the high-end catering sector with the launch of an innovative range of prepared produce.

Chiswick-based Anona has scoured the globe to come up with a range of 15 products, all branded Anona Fresh, which includes hand-trimmed mangetout, sliced green chillies, shelled garden peas and diced butternut squash.

Andy Thacker, trading manager, said all of the produce is sourced from higher level BRC accredited suppliers and washed and prepared in high-care facilities. “Each 500g pack also contains a code which allows us to trace it all the way back to the field, and that gives peace of mind to the chef.”

According to Anona, the vegetables are picked, washed with pure spring water and spun dry so that there is no chemical contamination at any stage.

Thacker said the packaging has also been developed with micro-perforations to extend the shelf life of the product to seven days, cutting back considerably on wastage in the kitchen.

The company was originally aiming at the Chinese sector, he said: “We decided that was too limiting and explored the idea further.

“The range we’ve launched can cut across all cuisines, from Chinese to English and Indian to Thai.

“We’ve got plans underway to develop and launch another six lines by November and we’re also working on an organic range as well.”

Anona is working with a select group of distributors in the UK and claimed produce could be shipped from field to kitchen in just 48 hours.