Fairfields Farm caps £2m investment with new fryer installation

Described as a ‘milestone upgrade’ by the manufacturer, the new fryer was expected to increase the company’s weekly crisp yield by 90% as it meets growing consumer demand for its hand cooked crisps.

Fairfields Farm has invested more than £2m into its in Wormingford factory over the past year in a bid to improve the quality of its products while exploring sustainable growth for the business.

Financial results

The announcement of the company’s significant site investments and improvement followed a hugely successful year of trading in 2023, with crisp sales up by 46% and branded crisps sales up by 70% compared to 2022. Additionally, the brand expanded its line-up with a new flavour, Prawn Cocktail, earlier this year.

Co-founder of Fairfields Farm Robert Strathern said: “We are incredibly excited about the installation of our new fryer on the farm. As demand for our crisps continues to grow locally and further afield, this significant upgrade will allow us to increase our production capacity to meet consumer needs.”​

Continuous investment

Back in 2017, Fairfields Farm signed a deal with equipment provider Fabcon Food Systems​​ to expand the production capabilities with a variety of frying, weighing, seasoning and packaging systems for its facility in near Colchester.

Strathern said that the company’s production and packaging facility had been given a ‘21st​ century upgrade’ with improvements to its seasoning and packaging systems.

Fairfields Farm grows its own crisping potatoes, which are hand cooked on site. It exports to about 20 countries including Mauritius, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Russia, Dubai, Germany, Norway, North America and Canada.

Meanwhile, bakery products manufacturer Baker & Baker has invested £2.9m into its cookie production line at its Wirral site,​​ expanding production and creating new jobs.