Greenvale Growers Group Appoints John Rix as New Chairman

Vales Produce Growers (VPG), the Greenvale potato grower group, has appointed John Rix as their new Chairman. John takes over from Tony Bambridge who has been Chairman of VPG since its inception.

VPG exists as the formal supply base for Greenvale, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fresh potatoes handling 500,000 tonnes of potatoes every year.

Greenvale provide the group with marketing options both internally and externally to a wider customer base, as well as providing technical support packages through a UK wide agronomy team.

Tony Bambridge was instrumental in developing the group from the previous Anglian Produce co-operative to its current structure, providing a more flexible framework for supply more suited to the current challenges in the supply chain and potato sector. Tony has been noted in particular for influencing the processing steering group, Vales McCains and the Birds Eye supply group. Tony will remain on the board of VPG.

John Rix has had a very long association with Greenvale and is a dedicated supporter of the strong customer relationships that they have established. His ambition with regard to VPG is to try and invigorate a progressive relationship between the excellent grower membership, the Greenvale business and their customer profile.

“I am convinced there is much that can be achieved to develop trust, commitment and profitable activity in a more closely attuned vertical supply chain in what is a rapidly changing fresh produce business” commented John.

John is currently Chairman of P.G. Rix (farms) Ltd., based near Colchester on the Essex/Suffolk border.

His potato production of 370 hectares supplies nine varieties on 100 per cent committed contracts with Greenvale. The farm’s onion production of 380 hectares is wholly dedicated to the family owned packing business Stourgarden.

Greenvale’s Sales and Trading Director Doug Bell said: “We are very happy to have a grower of John’s profile and quality in the Chairman’s role, and I am sure this move will add further strength to the VPG group”.