UK-based potato supplier MBM will continue to be a strong player in the industry despite suffering some hard times, Pepe Bascetta, MBM md told growers at the company’s Glenthorn Growers dinner last week.
Bascetta told guests MBM had been through a tough period, having to reshape the business: “We had to restructure our overhead cost-base quite dramatically. We took out 40 per cent of our costs and that is not a very pleasant thing to do,” he said.
“We recognise though that it is still tough. Obviously we are in an industry which is seeing a lot of casualties at the producer level, processor or indeed the customer level, but MBM is keen to take on the challenges that lie ahead.”
As part of its drive forward, MBM last year acquired fresh produce company FW Gedney and recently invested £3 million in a new operating system. It has also launched new brand Potato Lovers, which is doing well, Bascetta said: “It is a brand that will be supported by even more marketing money in 2006 and hopefully will continue into 2007.”
