Spania Fresh won the Christian Salvesen sponsored Importer of the Year award at this year’s Re:fresh. Specialising in the production, handling and distribution of high quality tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, the importer works in partnership with a network of grower groups in Holland, mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, as well as the UK.
Despite low prices in the UK, climate change, high operational costs and an ever-increasing level of competition, Spania Fresh maintains a healthy profit margin for itself and all of its supply-chain partners. The company, known as Elite MB until 1994, and Spania Fresh since 1998, has been built on solid foundations laid in years when it had a turnover of only £1 million. The group now has a turnover of £25m a year.
The formation of new grower groups in the Netherlands and mainland Spain enables the company to supply fresh salad items into the marketplace 12 months a year. And a concerted plan to plant in the right locations at different stages of the season to ensure continuity has paid dividends.
It has committed to developing its business in the Canary Islands despite the difficulties experienced in the islands in recent times. While storms have buffeted growers facilities, Spania Fresh has continued to invest heavily in nurseries and now oversees and finances the investment in 50 hectares of tomatoes and 16ha of cucumbers. Many growers in the Canary Islands have been forced to cease operating, but Spania Fresh has created opportunities for more than 250 staff - who would otherwise have been unemployed - to find gainful employment.
The company’s motto, Growing Together, is reflected in centralised systems for packing and marketing that allow all partners to share in reduced costs and increased efficiency. As a result, Spania Fresh is able to pass on more competitive rates to its customers, which in turn has resulted in increased demand for the products of the grower group. Capespan and Stubbins were finalists in this category.
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