Mushroom firm invests £2M to meet demand

The 75% expansion should be completed by early summer 2015, the firm claimed.

It currently provides over 450t of mushrooms a week to food manufacturers, retailers and foodservice customers.

‘Increase considerably’​

Its workforce of 240 was set to “increase considerably”​ as the firm expanded its operations at the site near Bury St Edmunds, the firm said.

The first mushrooms have also just been picked from a £1M investment in six growing houses at the firm’s Suffolk Farm, which opened in 2010.

The development increased the production at the farm by 33%. The site is heated by a biomass boiler which has helped to significantly reduce carbon emissions, the firm said.

Alan Walsh, chairman, Walsh Mushroom Group, said 2015 would be a “significant year”​ for the growth of the business.

“Our mushroom growing farm in Suffolk has once again expanded to satisfy customer requirement for locally sourced product,”​ he said.

“This, coupled with the investment planned at Evesham, clearly demonstrates our commitment to customers, and to our own plans, for significant growth in the UK mushroom market.''​

This investment was designed to further strengthen the family-run firm’s position in the UK market with a local produce offer to the major retail distribution centres in the region.

Within a year the site was producing over 50t of high quality mushrooms a week. 

10% of UK mushroom market​

The Irish firm currently has a group turnover in excess of €75M, accounting for over 10% of the total UK mushroom market.

The group would continue to invest in capital projects, employee training and welfare and the environment to ensure its continued growth was achieved in a rewarding and desirable manner, the firm claimed.

Earlier this year, wild mushroom was voted in the top 10 soups among British consumers as cash-strapped Brits looked to keep both costs and calories down.

Meanwhile, Cambridgeshire mushroom producer Littleport Mushroom Farm was fined £14k​ after an employee suffered crush injuries when his arm was caught in unguarded machinery.