Potato supplier sets standard in sustainable food production
New Cambridge University study highlights Greenvale’s strengths
Greenvale AP, the leading supplier of British potatoes, has come top in sustainability of food production, according to a pilot study conducted by Cambridge University’s Institute for Manufacturing (IfM).
The pilot study was conducted as part of the Competitive and Sustainable Food Manufacturing (CSFM) Project. The study trialled a new diagnostic tool and assessed five different areas of the UK food industry – Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Process Control, Lean Manufacturing and Sustainability.
Greenvale was one of twelve UK food businesses selected to take part in the study, including companies in food production (growers), wholesalers, food processing and supermarkets, benchmarking each company against its sector and industry average.
The results ranked Greenvale as by far the highest scoring company in the research programme. The researchers found its performance to be way above all sector and industry averages, always better than ‘very good’.
The researchers singled out the company for praise particularly in ‘lean manufacturing’ (minimising waste), which the study was identified as one of the food industry’s weakest areas. Greenvale ‘excels’ in lean manufacturing, says the Institute, not only in understanding the issues, but also implementing them ‘tangibly’, and adopting the techniques throughout the company.
The study also highlighted Greenvale for its intensive employee training programmes to achieve these results. Other ‘excellent’ practices by Greenvale included an extended recycling regime and good energy saving schemes, as well as packaging reduction programs and the elimination of waste.
Greenvale was considered ‘excellent’, compared to both the industry and sector averages and was the highest scoring organisation out of the 12 companies interviewed.
Trevor Dear, operations director at Greenvale AP said: "Obviously we are delighted with these results. In recent years we’ve worked very hard to lead by example in agriculture and food production. But to know we are also setting a standard for the rest of the food industry – wholesalers, food processing, supermarkets and the like – is especially gratifying."
For more information visit the Greenvale AP website at www.greenvale.co.uk.
Notes for Editors
Greenvale AP:
In 40 years Greenvale AP has grown to become the UK’s leading supplier of fresh potatoes and was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2006. Greenvale AP now supplies the UK’s premier retailers, caterers and processing outlets with quality potatoes, meeting the high standards demanded by the UK market.
Greenvale AP has developed sites in the major potato growing areas across the UK, resulting in three state of the art potato-packing operations situated in Shropshire, Berwickshire and Cambridgeshire. The company also has sales and marketing offices across the UK, including in Norfolk, Suffolk, Somerset, Hereford and Yorkshire. Greenvale AP’s Seed Potato operation is managed from a specialist office at Burrelton near Perth in Scotland.
Institute for Manufacturing (IfM):
The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) is part of the University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering. The IfM’s activities encompass industrial services, research, education and courses that aim to provide a clear understanding of the challenges facing manufacturing today. The IfM works closely with industry, at a regional, national and international level, providing strategic, technical and operational expertise to help companies to grow and to become more competitive. This work brings benefits to both parties. Industry receives practical solutions based on the latest applied research. The university receives live feedback to help set the agenda for new research and an income stream to assist in funding future research activities.
The IfM’s work with industry is characterised by: practical solutions underpinned by research collaborative working style designed to transfer knowledge balance of training and consultancy chosen by the client projects delivered and facilitated by experienced industrial professionals continued interest and support during and after implementation.