Potato News from United Kingdom

The dwindling availability of insecticide seed treatment and nematicides has paved the way for pest control using entomopathogenic nematodes.

North Yorkshire potato grower Tim Rooke has been re-elected chair of the NFU Potato Forum. Tim, who farms 240 hectares of potatoes, also grows crops on 400 hectares of his farm.

They’re one of the UK’s most loved staples, providing around half of our carbohydrate intake as a nation and supporting over 20,000 farm, transport and manufacturing jobs.

Nanna Tate, a new potato brand from leading supplier, Branston, has expanded its offering, with the launch of its range of prepared potato dishes, set to land in Tesco stores in February.

Scottish seed potato exports amounted to over 92,000 tonnes in 2023/24. The largest market is Egypt with 60% of exports, followed by Morocco with 10%. The remainder goes to a further 26 countries with volumes varying from thousands of tonnes to a few hundred. 

The British Potato Industry Event 2025 is back this November, uniting professionals from across the potato supply chain for two action-packed days of networking, innovation, and industry insights.

AKP Group, one of the UK’s leading potato supply chain specialists, has announced the acquisition of Yorkshire-based Whole Crop Marketing Ltd (WCM), further enhancing the group’s position as a trusted partner in the UK potato sector.

Scottish potato specialist Albert Bartlett has underlined the challenges posed by Brexit and cost inflation amid the continued fallout from the pandemic after enjoying a surge in profits.

Leading potato supplier Branston is once again encouraging schools to sign up for the Grow Your Own Potatoes programme this year, as one of the sponsors of the primary school-based farm-to-fork initiative.

The New Year has started with the announcement of a significant appointment at the UK's leading manufacturer of vegetable handling solutions. Haith welcomes Trevor King as Head of Operations to drive strategic growth.

In the United Kingdom, Doritos suggested a potential change in the shape of their chips, leading to many unhappy comments from fans and a response from the brand itself. Nothing is more iconic about Doritos than its triangle-shaped chip.

McCain Foods United Kingdom has revolutionized the frozen food aisle with its latest innovation—a potato snack that perfectly combines the crispiness of a crisp with the fluffiness of a fry. This bold new creation offers a fresh take on potato snacks, designed to deliver an irresistible texture and flavor experience.

Fera scientists have made breakthrough progress with industry-steered wireworm research, highlighting where and when the pest is expected to pose the highest risk to arable and fresh produce crops over the next two decades. 

Haith, the UK’s leading manufacturer of vegetable handling machinery, has announced the retirement of Mick Haith after 47 years with the company. Mick’s interest in engineering began when he was seven, helping his father and company founder, George Haith, assemble machines.

McCain Foods has executed a full packaging refresh across their GB and EU markets, redesigning their full portfolios to align with their latest wider brand refresh.

A Christmas dinner stand-off is looming as almost 80% of younger adults are demanding that roasties are ditched in favour of chips on the big day itself.

GB Potatoes has announced that Alex Godfrey will be taking over the reins as Chairman after being elected at the Annual General meeting on the 12th December. Alex takes over from Mark Taylor who has been the Chair ever since the launch of the organisation in 2022.

Nanna Tate is a stand-out new potato brand which has been developed by Branston, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of potatoes. With a focus on recreating the nostalgia evoked by the best potato dishes, Nanna Tate builds on Branston’s 50 plus years of potato expertise, adding a modern twist while tapping into the enduring love that Brits have for the humble spud.