Potato News from United Kingdom

DS Smith has created retail-ready packaging (RRP) for Seabrook Crisps that can be turned into a standalone display.The pack can be transformed from RRP to a display unit by opening the perforations on the side of the tray to create special locking tabs...

Desparate Housewives star Marcia Cross has been signed up by potato company Albert Bartlett. Marcia will front the new rooster potato ad campaign which is the biggest yet by the UK’s leading fresh potato supplier. John Hicks, marketing manager for Al...

Intersnack, one of the UK's largest snack manufacturers has revealed plans to extend its premium brand Penn State, by launching a new range of ‘deli-cious' baked chips.Alongside the already popular pretzel range, Penn State will introduce a new deli in...

New international work is under way to help potato growers assess the risk, before planting, of their crops getting powdery scab and black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani).The Potato Council-funded £430,000 three-year study involves SCRI, SAC and the Food an...

William Chase (Founder of Tyrrell’s upscale potato crisps and king of added value) has scooped four Gold awards for it’s’ potato vodka and liqueurs.The Great Taste awards, run by the Guild of Fine Food, has awarded Chase distillery a Gold 1 star award ...

Farmers must stop squabbling over whether organic or conventional agriculture is most environmentally friendly, a leading scientist has warned.Ian Crute said it was vital to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all types of agriculture. “The notion tha...

In preparation for the Christmas and New Year period, Kettle Chips is introducing its winter seasonal flavour, Red Onion Chutney, to its range of hand cooked chips in the UK.

Greenvale AP, the UK's largest supplier of fresh potatoes, is developing a radical potato cleaning system on its Tern Hill, Shropshire site. The system is code-named Project Cascade and Greenvale aims to have it fully operational by the end of the year...

To meet the growing trend for strong, British flavours and generate extra sales for retailers, United Biscuits UK, a leading manufacturer of snacks, biscuits and cakes, is launching McCoy’s limited edition Pub Grub range.The range consists of two class...

Up to a sixth of the UK's potato production could be lost as a result of an EU directive on pesticides, an expert said yesterday.Rob Clayton, of the Potato Council, based his warning on the effects of removing several chemicals essential in keeping pe...

Three major growers have set up a new potato farming company in Herefordshire. Faced by three bad seasons and difficulty in maintaining high standards in the packing trade, they have decided to change direction in marketing. The new company, Process...

For years, healthful-food advocates have said organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown. But that claim — trumpeted on the Web sites of organizations ranging from the national Organic Trade Association to the Seattle-based PCC Natural ...

Fresh potatoes take a starring role and inspire families to build them into their weekly meal repertoires.Thanks to its innovative ‘Me for a Day’ life swap experiment, which was captured on film and has been airing nationally, the Potato Council’s camp...

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found. The Food Standard...

The Agency is today launching a consultation on its proposals to introduce voluntary recommendations for food manufacturers for reductions in saturated fat and added sugar and increased availability of smaller single-portion sizes in a number of key ...

McCain Foods (GB) Ltd have announced the appointment of Helen Priestley as Marketing Director. In her previous position Priestley championed McCain Food’s main ingredient, the Great British potato on behalf of the Potato Council where she worked for 10...

A new option for automation of the weighing and bagging of potatoes is being provided through a joint initiative by Tong Peal and Pacepacker Services.  The two companies are working together to offer machinery that combines the Tong Peal electronic w...

The Potato Council’s estimate of total potato plantings for 2009 has been updated from the provisional end-June area of 129,100 ha to a revised figure of 130,268 ha.This is very close to the final published figure for 2008 of 130,200 ha. The revised fi...