Easy Peasy for Ardo with new line

By Anne Bruce

- Last updated on GMT

Pea Drilling in East Anglia
Pea Drilling in East Anglia
Frozen foods supplier Ardo UK is about to finish installing a new pea packing line at its Kent headquarters, following a £5m supply deal with Anglian Pea Growers.

Ardo UK, which is part of Belgium giant Ardo, is also funding an upgrade of pea processing equipment at a Norbert Dentressangle distribution site in Lowestoft, securing 38 jobs.

The company started negotiations with East Anglian pea growers last March after Birds Eye suddenly ended a long-term contract for the area's 15,000 tonne pea crop.

Several varieties of premium peas are being grown for Ardo by the 150 farmer co-operative Anglian Pea Growers. They will be sold to retailers and foodservice companies.

Interest in provenance

Ardo UK md Stephen Waugh said: “Increasingly, British consumers are looking for products where the provenance can be traced, and we will be the only major supplier of East Anglian peas​.”

There had been fears for the future East Anglia’s traditional pea growing industry after Birds Eye cancelled its contract in February 2010.

The withdrawal of a large export deal to Unilever’s Findus ready meals business in Italy prompted Birds Eye to axe 20% of its total UK pea production; growers in East Anglia were informed just a week before they were due to plant the crop.

Peas make up nearly 40% of all frozen vegetables sold in the UK, and have a retail value of more than £150m a year.

Related topics Frozen

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