It may be a slogan of a bygone recession in a previous millennium, but “we’re backing Britain” is the key theme underpinning Stubbins Marketing’s procurement strategy in 2009.
Salad grower, packer and importer Stubbins, based at Waltham Cross in the Lea Valley, has expanded its share of the home-grown protected salad crop sector to more than 25 per cent this year through two new partnerships, and is actively looking for more growers.
The company’s commercial director, Peter Turone, pictured, told FPJ: “British produce is in fashion. This has been driven by customer demand for locally grown products that offer consumers the perceived freshness and flavour they are seeking. Also, the falling value of sterling has made importing considerably more difficult and home-grown product more attractive.”
Stubbins grows and controls 120 acres of protected salad crops in the UK, which represents more than a quarter of the exclusive deals struck since the beginning of 2009 with two Lea Valley producers, Britannia Salads and Villa Nurseries. These more than doubled the area available to the firm in 2008, strengthening Stubbins’ cucumber, pepper and aubergine availability.
Vince Gaiteri, managing director of Britannia Salads and chairman of the Cucumber Growers’ Association, feels the greater emphasis on British product is good news for the entire domestic industry. “It is good to hear that the industry is favouring the British option at a time of downturn in the economy,” he said.
Mike Gibilaro, md at Villa Nurseries, told FPJ that the creation of a larger network of inter-dependent growers creates opportunities to benefit from economies of scale. “In pooling our resources with Stubbins, we have unified ourselves, which gives us more negotiating power when buying gas, supplies, etc,” he said.
Stubbins’s introduction of Good Natured Salads to the marketplace this month gave it another reason to expand its British grower network, as 40a of its own portfolio of three nurseries are now turned over to pesticide-free production.
Turone added: “We are opening the door further - and would welcome the opportunity to talk to growers who want to come and join us.”
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