12 October 2015
Petrow Food Group opens new multi-million pound
advanced processing facility in Haverhill
Petrow Food Group, suppliers of specialised ingredients to the food industry, has
invested more than £4 million in an 80,000 sq. ft. factory and warehouse facility at
Haverhill, Suffolk. The 7.2 acre site, previously purpose built for food ingredients, is
now officially open as the group completes a rebranding following the 2013
acquisition of Quality Kernels.
From this site, which has significantly upgraded the company’s processing and
screening facilities, the Petrow Food Group will process dried fruit, coconut, date and
nut products (excluding groundnuts) to meet the requirements of a growing list of
clients in the UK and overseas.
Petrow Food Group is the new name for the business which includes Petrow Food
Industries (PFI) and Quality Kernels Ltd.
“The new group combines PFI’s leading know-how in chopping, nibbing, pasting and
slicing dried fruit with Quality Kernels’ expertise in processing and roasting of a full
range of nuts and seeds in a peanut free environment,” says Graham Davenport,
Sales and Procurement Director of Petrow Food Group. “This is in addition to the
Group’s trading activities of these products, therefore the Petrow Food Group can
now offer the complete package of both the trading and processing of nuts, seeds,
coconuts, dates and dried fruit.”
The Group will continue with its blending and packaging lines at its Perivale site in
West London where it has a segregated facility for the handling of groundnuts.
All coconut and some date production will move to the new site in Haverhill during
the course of the year.
“The strategy for the new site is to provide increased production capacity to support
growth within our ingredient product and contract packing business, and to meet
increased demand for our wide range of products produced in an environment that
meets customers’ stringent health and safety standards,” explains Graham
Davenport. The Group’s new facility includes its own warehouse which because of its
proximity to Felixstowe Docks brings significant cost and logistics benefits.
Both of the Petrow facilities have been granted and currently hold A rating
certification under BRC Global Standards, the leading Food Safety Standard. The
Group is also a member of the National Dried Fruits Trade (NDFTA) and Organic
Farmers & Growers Associations.
“The standards ensure all legal obligations are fulfilled and confirm to our customers
that our food safety and protecting the consumer are paramount,” adds Graham
Davenport. “Operations at the new site are now up and running. Haverhill will now
provide the platform to develop all our business sectors.”
Petrow Food Group supplies a wide range of dried fruit products to a variety of
companies from blue chip companies to artisan manufacturers of chocolates, muesli,
breakfast cereals, snack foods, ready meals, pickles, sauces and bakery products.
The group offers customers in retail, wholesale and manufacturing a complete range
of processing – pasting, chopping, nibbing, blanching, blending and packing services.
It also offers industrial, foodservice and retail clients a major contract packing
business. All production takes place in allergen-controlled and organic approved
environments.
All Petrow Food Group products supplied are fully traceable back to origin.
Ends
Petrow Food Group’s Finance and Operations Director, Ian Tatchell (left) and Sales
and Procurement Director, Graham Davenport at the Group’s new £4 million factory
and facility at Haverhill, Suffolk
The Petrow Food Group can now offer the complete package of both the trading and
processing of nuts, seeds, coconuts, dates and dried fruit
For further information please contact:
Stephanie Sergeant/Suzanne Howe
Suzanne Howe Communications
Tel: +44 (0)2034 680923
Email: info@suzannehowe.com
Twitter: @suzannehowecomm
Web: www.suzannehowe.com
Notes to editors:
Petrow Food Group
Petrow Food Group incorporates Petrow Food Industries, Quality Kernels and Palm
Fruits. The company specialises in supplying a wide range of dried fruit products,
dates, nuts, seeds and coconuts to a broad range of customers from global blue chip
food manufacturers to producers of artisan products.
The company has two plants in the UK including Perivale, West London and its new
manufacturing site in Haverhill, Suffolk which was acquired in 2014. Its purchase in
October 2013 of Quality Kernels from the Zubrance Group, enabled the Petrow Food
Group to offer customers a complete package of trading and processing nuts and
seeds adding to their fruits and dates production business.
The company is connected to the C.J.Petrow Group of Companies. C.J.Petrow & Co.
(Pty) Ltd which was established in South Africa in 1954. The business today is a
group of more than 20 companies which employs over 500 people. It operates in
countries including the UK, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland and South Africa.