New potato producer ploughs ahead
Fylde, Fresh & Fabulous: David Linton, Nick Marsh and Colin Bradley.
A NEW high quality potato business has launched on the Fylde with the backing of Yorkshire Bank's Preston Financial Solutions Centre.
Fylde Fresh and Fabulous, based at Weeton, near Preston, has been set up by business partners, David Linton and Colin Bradley, to supply a range of high quality locally grown potato products.
The company manufactures and supplies its products to a wide range of customers, including the food service industry, schools, through to the national supermarket chains plus 200 chip shops across the North West.
It can produce up to 300 tonnes of prepared potatoes and chips per week, which are mainly sourced on the Fylde and are supplied fresh, chipped, frozen, chilled, raw or blanched.
David Linton, managing director, who previously spent ten years as a regional manager at the Nat West working with the agricultural banking team, heads up a 27 strong workforce.
He said: "Fylde Fresh and Fabulous, along with Colin's potato growing company Colin Bradley Ltd, aims to work together to supply customers with a fully traceable potato product, grown to the highest standards and using the best farming practices.
"We chose Yorkshire above all the other banks, because of its expertise in the agricultural sector but also its ability to take a long-term view and the excellent level of service. We have got the business off the ground, which is supplying a premium product and service and through a challenging potato season will go from strength to strength."
Yorkshire Bank's Financial Solutions Centre in Preston provided a complete package to set up the business, including asset finance to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, which peels, chips, cuts and packs the potatoes.
Nick Marsh, senior agri-business partner at Yorkshire Bank, added: "Yorkshire Bank has been involved with Colin Bradley, who is one of the biggest potato producers in the North, for some time. When he joined forces with David Linton we saw the potential to add value and grow the business and demand for their products have exceeded all our expectations."
