Tag Archives: Vitacress

Vitacress invests

Vitacress says it will spend £4 million on expanding intake operations at its St Mary Bourne salads factory in Hampshire.

Work on the new facility will begin this autumn and finish in 2017, with the company proposing to close its current operations at nearby Amesbury.

Vitacress CEO Toby Brinsmead said, “Two years ago we started an investment programme to support our ambition to be leaders in our core markets of fresh herbs and salads. In 2016 we completed a £6 million investment in Chichester, West Sussex, creating the UK’s leading fresh herbs facility. This new investment in our St Mary Bourne factory is the next step to ensure that we remain competitive and continue to provide the best produce available in the rapidly evolving salads market.”

The company has entered into consultation with its employees to accommodate the closure of its Amesbury factory and adapt to changes in working patterns and shift structures required at the St Mary Bourne site.

Photo Caption: Toby Brinsmead

Photo Credit: Vitacress

The post Vitacress invests appeared first on Hort News on 28 July 2016.

New chair for Leafy Salads Association

After Graham Clarkson of Vitacress stepped down as Chairman of the British Leafy Salads Association in March, the Industry body that represents UK growers and packers of salads has appointed Valefresco Ltd’s Technical Manager, Jackie Harris, as its new Chairman.

Jackie brings with her more than 25 years of experience in fresh produce, in particular salads and herbs, having worked for some of the biggest names in the sector, including Organic Farm Foods, Lighthorne Herbs, Vitacress, VHB Herbs and Lincolnshire Herbs.

The Association hopes to benefit from Jackie’s in-depth knowledge and expertise in outdoor, protected and baby leaf crops. In her current role at Valefresco, Jackie manages the technical aspects of over 1000 acres of outdoor salads and more than 45 acres of protected cropping.

Commenting on her appointment, Jackie said, “I am delighted to have been elected as Chair. Since starting out in the business at the tender age of fourteen, working for a local market gardener, my passion for fresh produce has gone from strength to strength. Leafy salads is a vibrant industry and I’m looking forward to working alongside BLSA members and other organisations to further raise its profile to promote British salads and produce at every opportunity.”

The post New chair for Leafy Salads Association appeared first on Hort News.