Potato News from United Kingdom

The largest ever Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant of £4 million has been awarded to potato processing firm Albert Bartlett. It will allow the company to diversify into the growing convenience and chilled potato market.

AHDB Potatoes announced earlier this month that GB potato stock levels for the end of November are estimated at 3.6M tonnes, the highest level for this point in the season since 2011/12.

Priory Vodka made from a small acreage of potato crop that is otherwise destined for McCain’s and McDonald’s fries won two prestigious Gold awards at the Global Spirits Masters in autumn 2017. Priory Vodka will go on sale shortly.

A research project aims to improve the accuracy of the ‘AHDB Potatoes potato cyst nematode (PCN) pallida calculator’ which is currently used as an educational forecasting tool for potato growers in the United Kingdom.

Fairfields Farm Crisps has agreed to acquire Ten Acre Crisps, in an ongoing concentration of smaller premium brands focused on high quality and free-from attributes in the UK snack market

Leading vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, Tong Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of ScanStone potato systems as the company’s new approved dealer for Scotland.

In October chef Heston Blumenthal revealed his top tips for achieving roasties that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, every time. However, according to students from Edge Hotel School at the University of Essex, Blumenthal has been cutting his spuds all wrong.

Sales at potato firm Albert Bartlett have climbed 18 per cent to £146m, but operating profit was again impacted by price pressures in the supply chain.

Burt’s Potato Chips have announced the purchase of Leicester’s Savoury & Sweet popcorn manufacturer for an undisclosed sum.

Aviko Foodservice has announced the launched of their Crunch Fries in the United Kingdom. These new French Fries are perfect for home deliveries.

Following an investigation by the Animal and Plant Health Agency earlier this year, it has been confirmed that ulluco tubers imported into the UK from a number of different sources were infected by harmful viruses, highlighting that there is uncertainty about the disease status of this crop in general.

McCain UK is opening a Roastaurant where one can sample 100,000 possible roast dinner combinations.

Aldi’s potato sales in Wales have risen by a third since the retailer began sales of Welsh potatoes five months ago, highlighting the popularity of homegrown produce in the country.

AHDB is seeking 15 up-and-coming professionals with a passion for driving the potato industry forwards to join the 2018 Next Generation programme, launching in April next year.

Mintel, a leading market intelligence agency, identified five key trends set to impact the global food and drink market in 2018.

AHDB Potatoes will officially launch its Potato Data Centre (PDC) at BP2017 at Harrogate on 22 and 23 November.

Solely supplied by Branston, Italian new potatoes are returning to Tesco for the seventh consecutive year, to keep pace with the increasing demand for fresh seasonal new potatoes.

A recent marketing research report by Mintel among British consumers that buy butter, spread, oil and fat reports a remarkable drop in the frequency consumers are frying at home.