An award winning mushroom producer has expanded into Poland to create a pan-European mushroom producer and marketing operation.
Re:fresh award winners Greyfriars UK has expanded its mushroom arm, Northern Mushrooms, to include Polish producers Okechamp SA.
With a projected turnover of £22 million for 2005, Greyfriars claimed it is set to be one of the sector’s most influential players in the next two to five years.
Okechamp, which is EurepGAP and BRC accredited, has recently invested in a 33,500 sq metre mushroom operation in north-west Poland, complete with mushroom composting facilities, two production units and a packhouse. It has capacity to produce 170 tonnes a week, year-round.
The deal means Greyfriars now offers produce from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, Holland and Poland.
It said the company could now provide continuity of service to customers by spreading possible risks throughout its supply base.
John Smith, Greyfriars managing director, said: “Poland has gained a reputation for producing excellent quality, low-cost mushrooms and with the entry of Poland into the EU, an influx into the UK market is inevitable.
“While critics argue that Polish produce will undermine the UK market, this deal offers a two-fold benefit - retaining and building market share for UK companies, while profits will be used to sustain the viability of the UK supply base so a strategic proportion of volume is always available from viable UK farms.”
Greyfriars, winners of the packer of the year award at Re:fresh 2004, has recently announced a fifth year of strong financial growth.
Performance for 2003/04 saw sales of £11 million for the north Yorkshire-based company, which supplies vegetables to the leading multiples, including Morrisons.
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