With the opening of a new 5.7 Hectare greenhouse in Kent, APS Salads has seen a 50% increase in their greenhouse production within the UK. The expansion is part two of a three-part plan to increase production in response to increased demand from consumers for UK-grown produce.
APS has greenhouses located in Kent and Cheshire where they grow tomatoes for a number of major retailers in the UK including Tesco & Iceland. None of their production is grown on speculation, as they prefer to make longer term commitments with its customers. The recent expansion is a result of increased and on-going demand for British Tomatoes. APS is also cooperating with other British growers to meet with the demand for more home grown product.
APS also cooperate with a number of overseas growers to meet the total annual demand, while also providing service provision and contract packing during the summer and winter months to ensure year round supply and employment for its workforce.
“Consumer research has dictated that demand for British Tomatoes is stronger than ever and looks set to continue as people look for locally grown products and provenance. It’s this research that’s driving our expansion plans and by working closely with our customers we have been able to invest ensuring long term sustainability”.
The new greenhouse will also be equipped with latest technology to reduce the amount of energy used in its growing operation. With energy costs set to increase in the longer term, APS Salads have worked tirelessly to review its energy requirements and as part of the recent build have developed and built a new state of the art energy centre that will harness the benefits of latest CHP engines. This provides heat and CO2 for the crop, whilst also providing electricity for the local community in the most environmentally efficient manner for both the existing area and the future development of the site.
APS Salads was one of the first growers in the UK that used a CHP, while utilising waste heat and CO2 to grow a tomato crop. It is this technology that has been refined over a number of years, that is being used today to grow a crop in the most environmentally friendly way and providing green electricity to the local communities in which its site are located.
For more information: www.apssalads.com