The initiative is the brainchild of North Star Foods managing director Adam Shepherd, Troy Foods group managing director James Kempley and The Tuber Group managing director Steve Humphrey.
REMS will import frozen food ingredients from around the world, specialising in individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs for further processing by UK and Irish food manufacturers.
Shepherd will head up the business as managing director. REMS will initially launch with a six-strong team, with a head office in Hessle, Yorkshire, a trading office in Market Harborough and offices in China, the US, Eastern Europe, Spain and Egypt.
‘Ready for a shake-up’
Shepherd said: “Having worked in the sector for the last 13 years, I believe that the frozen food ingredient supply market is ready for a shake-up.
“Our aim is to provide a full-service offering, taking care of all aspects from the sourcing, quality control and importing of products to finance, currency exchange, purchase and customs.
“Given the added complexity of importing following Brexit changes, taking away the hassle of import issues and giving customers complete peace of mind is more important than ever.”
REMS will manage all aspects of the import and delivery of produce ranging from individually quick-frozen strawberries, blueberries, mangoes and melons to onions, garlic, ginger, chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, carrots, mushrooms and peppers.
Stand-alone business
“We plan to be established as a fully standalone business by the end of 2021 with a team of up to a dozen people, and to be the supplier of choice to all major UK and Irish food manufacturers,” Shepherd added.
“As well as serving the UK food industry, we also have plans to expand into European markets with ambitions to move further afield too.”
Meanwhile, Mackie’s Crips – a joint-venture between Taylor Farm and Mackie’s of Scotland – has invested £750,000 in a new facility in Errol, Perthshire, dedicated to the production of its Wholesums vegetable chip snacks.