Potato News from United Kingdom

McCain Foods has appointed Adam & Eve DDB to handle its creative account following a pitch against Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Bartle Bogle Hegarty, WCRS and incumbent BMB.

Heinz is set to cut 200 jobs when it shuts a potato processing plant in Norfolk, which produces Aunt Bessie's frozen potato products

Farm Frites has introduced a versatile range of eight different potato mini bites in the United Kingdom, covering various flavours and textures: Let’s Go Mini

Now there will be even more reasons to purchase the sharing bags as KETTLE® Chips runs its first ever on pack promotion on the core 150g range (United Kingdom).

The UK’s first peel front crisp packets are set to be released to market by Seabrook Crisps within its new, Lattice Cut range.

Snacks firm Seabrook Crisps is hailing the success of a turnaround programme which saw the company bounce back into profit last year.

The dates have been set for the famous UK Potato Week 2014; running from 6-12 October the campaign will celebrate the humble potato and encourage mums to ‘trade-up’ from generic whites to named varieties.

KETTLE® Chips is pleased to announce that it will be introducing three seasonal flavours to its range of delicious, hand cooked chips in time for the key Christmas sales period.

In 2013 Norton Farm Potatoes invested in a grading line designed and manufactured by Tong Peal. Therefore, Tong Peal were the first port of call when increased throughput meant they needed to add to their machinery.

Up to 186 jobs are under threat after KP Snacks said it had plans to close two of its factories in a move to streamline its business.

Tesco Northern Ireland’s commercial manager Cliff Kells has confirmed that sales of ‘Comber’ potatoes more than doubled, year-on-year, in local Tesco outlets during the months of July and August.

The FSA (Food Standards Agency) has published the results from its latest study looking at levels of the process contaminants acrylamide and furan in a wide range of UK retail foods.

Sponge and felt dryers from Herbert Engineering, the leaders in root crop handling systems, have been integrated into freshpack plants in Britain and Europe, with excellent results both in terms of removing surface moisture and minimising maintenance

As Potato Council and the GB seed potato sector prepare for next months’ Potato Europe event in Germany, recent export statistics confirm that GB seed potatoes continue to be in demand around the world, with the 2013/14 figures revealing a new seed exports record from Britain.

The UK’s largest grower and supplier of potatoes, with a site at Burrelton, attended Scotland’s second largest agricultural show for the first time in order to promote its GreenVale potato brand. The company not only had an exhibition stand but were sponsoring the cookery demonstration given by Lady Clare MacDonald and supplied her with GreenVale potatoes to use in her recipes

Aughton potato grower Andrew Webster’s desire to try the science in Potato Council-funded trials to increase productivity at his own farm is to be opened up to other growers, Thursday 11 September.

Tong Peal has taken screen grading technology to the next level with the launch of a new option on all models of its market leading EasyGrade screen grading modules, designed to increase efficiency and minimise downtime for farms and pack houses.

Henry Alston, a Norfolk potato farmer has been declared champion grower in the south of England in annual awards staged by McCain Foods (GB).