Fenland food processing sites receive boost following company’s pledge to back British fruit and vegetables

ONE of Fenland’s largest employers has committed to buying more than 40,000 tonnes of British-grown fruit and vegetables during the coming year.

Food and drink group Princes, which employs 1,073 people across its Wisbech and Long Sutton production sites, has signed new deals with British growers of potatoes, peas, carrots, rhubarb and beetroot.

The fruit and vegetables will be processed at the business’ Long Sutton and Wisbech-based production sites for use in branded and customer own-brand canned food.

The move is partly driven by the success of the Crosse & Blackwell brand which Princes relaunched last year.

Ruth Simpson, corporate relations director for Princes, said: “We know from our experience with Crosse & Blackwell that consumers are keen to buy British and that the quality of the products supplied by our British farmers is extremely high.

“As a business we are committed to using British ingredients where possible and to fostering long-term partnerships with our suppliers.”