Nationwide Produce has agreed an exclusive partnership with Albert Bartlett to sell anewrange of ‘Albert Bartlett Chef Signature’ potatoes into non-retail outlets including foodservice, catering and wholesale.
While the potatoes will be marketed through Nationwide into its traditional customer base, the ultimate customer will be chefs, according to the company.
“We expect that these potatoes will very soon become a favourite among chefs, and that they will be asking for them by name,' said Nationwide group managing director Tim O'Malley. 'Quite simply they will deliver a levelof taste, consistencyand quality which hasn’t been seen before and will make their lives so much easier.
“The Albert Bartlett brand has been pioneering for consumers and we anticipate that this partnership will do the same in the non-retail sector.”
Launch activity for the range will include a competition for chefs run in conjunction with Michel RouxJr. Chefs will be invited to upload their recipes using the Albert Bartlett Chef Signature range to social media. The prize for the best entry will be a meal for two at Le Gavroche together with an overnight stay in London.
There will be four branded products initially offered: Albert BartlettRooster; BrushedAlbert BartlettRooster Chipping Potatoes; Albert BartlettElfe; and Albert BartlettAlexandra, which is a new premium, yellow-fleshed Mediterranean-style salad potato.
Michael Jarvis, head of marketing for Albert Bartlett, said: “We have been providing top-quality produce since 1948 and pride ourselves on our delicious potatoes. Albert Bartlett is an independent, family-owned company and all of the packs in the Chefs range carry the signature of Alex, great-grandson of our founder. We are delighted to be partnering with Nationwide and are confident that the country’s chefs will be impressed with our products.”
