By Ewan Pate, farming editor

IN A surprise move the Co-operative Group, Britain’s biggest farmer, has added to its business operations in Scotland by acquiring a state-of-the-art potato packing site at Carnoustie.

The group’s agricultural arm, The Co-operative Farms—trading name for Farmcare Ltd—has purchased the assets of Heather Pre-Packs Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

The Co-operative Farms’ Scottish interests include a 1600-hectare fruit and cereal business in Perthshire at Rosemount near Blairgowrie, a 1200-hectare business in Aberdeenshire and a 4000-hectare operation in Berwickshire.

The purchase of Heather Pre-Packs is in line with The Co-operative Farms’ aim to increase its potato packing capability and develop closer links with the group’s food retail division.

All 46 employees of Heather Pre-Packs will transfer to The Co-operative Group as part of the agreement.

The purchase of the packing facility will enable The Co-operative Farms to have direct control over the packing of potatoes, grown both by themselves and committed local growers, which are then distributed to Co-op stores throughout Scotland and the north of England.

Some 20,000 tonnes of potatoes a year are currently packed for the Co-op on the Carnoustie site.

This is the first packing operation for The Co-operative Farms in Scotland and adds to its English facility at Langley Brook in Tamworth, Staffordshire, which packs 27,000 tonnes of potatoes a year.

Commenting on the new venture, operations manager for The Co-operative Farms, Scotland, Fraser Scott, said, “We are delighted to be extending our operations in Scotland and to be adding a second packing plant to our business.

“Our packing operation in Staffordshire has proved very successful and we believe the Carnoustie facility will be too, and that there will be benefits in having operations in both England and Scotland.

“It is a great opportunity to establish closer links between our farming business, local growers and Co-op retail stores. The new facility gives us the ability to keep the supply chain as efficient as possible.”

Graham Bell, managing director of Heather Pre-Packs Ltd, said, “There’s obviously a tinge of sadness that my family’s 40-year association with the potato-packing plant has come to an end, but I am in no doubt that the future for staff, suppliers and customers alike is much brighter following the acquisition by The Co-operative Farms.

“The facility has only recently been fully refurbished and is now well placed for the future.”