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QV and Taypack Sign Deal Which Signals Good News for Scottish Growers

Taypack Limited in Perthshire is set to become one of the largest potato packing operations in the UK thanks to a deal with QV Foods Limited, which will create over 100 jobs and safeguard hundreds of others in the Scottish potato growing sector.

QV Foods, which is based in East Anglia, has acquired the potato packing arm of Inchture-based Taypack, the facilities of which have benefited from £20million investment, making it one of the most modern grading and packing facilities in Europe.

The deal will provide QV Foods with a Scottish base from which it can service its Scottish and UK wide retail, food service and wholesale accounts. This will significantly increase its potato growing network in the UK. Taypack currently grows 800 acres of potatoes and buys from a dedicated network of growers on 4000 acres of additional land within a 50 mile radius of the factory premises. Taypack will continue growing, sourcing and procuring potatoes to supply the Inchture packing facility, as well as other processing facilities, and will also benefit from increased distribution opportunities in the South arising from the new venture with QV Foods.

The opportunity to develop new business on the Taypack site is welcomed by the directors of both companies. QV Foods director Simon Martin said, "For QV this is an excellent opportunity to establish a base in the heart of one of the best potato growing areas of Scotland. The support of the enlarged team and additional facilities will enable QV Scotland to continue to provide an excellent service to customers of both businesses. We look forward to working with our extended Scottish supply base and new customers to enhance our service delivery and create new opportunities together."

"This is a win-win deal" added Martin. "Following our acquisition of MBM Potatoes last year, this represents a significant piece in the British potato supply jigsaw for our company and is a major step forward in establishing QV Foods as the leading supplier of British potatoes to all sectors of the UK market."

The collaboration between the two fourth generation family owned firms is expected to see total potato volumes of around half a million tonnes processed next year, creating 100 new jobs in the area and important opportunities for Taypack's dedicated grower network.

Taypack chief executive George Taylor explained, "Thanks to QV Foods we will now have the opportunity to increase our grower network and acreage and assist our farmers by offering outlets for their entire crop, which is one of the many advantages of being involved with a company that has such a well established portfolio and wide diversity of accounts."

Welcoming the news he added, "This is a great fit between two companies who have a shared ethos and common aims. This is good news for our loyal members of staff, our Scottish potato growers and the future of Taypack Limited and we look forward to our continued association with such a progressive company."

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