Big investment planned for Kettle - A £3m investment programme will start on Monday at Kettle Foods to handle twice as many potatoes every day.About 50,000 tonnes of potatoes are grown each year in Norfolk within about 30 miles of the Bowthorpe, Norwich factory. And the new intake equipment, which replace some 25-year-old machinery, will move potatoes with more “tender, loving care” to reduce potential bruising to a minimum.Ashley Hicks, managing director, told a party of 20 members of Stalham Farmers’ Club that the work should be completed by April next year. About £1m has been grant-aided by the EU’s rural development programme.Dan Hewitt, head of agriculture – and incidentally a former club chairman in 2004 – said that that the new system would be able to handle about 550 tonnes a day instead of the current 220 tonnes. And by transporting the potatoes in a watery flume instead of on rubber belts, it would be kinder to the delivered crops, he said.The visitors were shown Kettle staff cooking all the crisps by hand in open vats containing sunflower oil. It takes about seven and a half minutes to cook about 50kg of crisps, which are fried at about 165C, to produce the authentic colour of a Kettle potato chip. They also watched a £1m robot pick up bags and pack them into boxes, ready for despatch to the firm’s Snetterton warehouse and distribution centre. As the company approaches its 30th anniversary next year of production in Norfolk, Mr Hicks that a series of initiatives are being planned to raise the profile and brand awareness. He said that still many people in the county did not realise that Kettle Chips were produced by about 400 staff at the Barnard Road factory. And he was determined to ensure that as many pubs, hotels and restaurants were selling Kettle Crisps. In the coming months, a promotional exercise would start with a “man and a van” to ensure their crisps stocked by more outlets in the county. Mr Hicks that a dedicated team of growers, mainly from Norfolk but also from neighbouring counties, supplied all the home-grown potatoes to meet the rising demand for Kettle Crisps. And by sourcing the seed potato varieties exclusively for its growers, it was able to have a dedicated supply chain from field to factory. As members left, they were able to sample the latest exclusive limited edition for Christmas – Truffled Cheese and Champagne.Paul Corfield who thanked the hosts said that it had been a most fascinating tour.
Entry added: 19 Oct 2018 |
Barley challenge.
Supreme champion inter-club malting barley grower William Mack will be defending his title against the best sample from a Stalham Farmers' Club member. He triumphed earlier this year with a sample of Propino, which was judged by Bob King, of Crisp Malting Group. Mr Mack, of Hempstead Hall, near Holt, won the Holt & District Farmers' Club championship with the same variety again. Entries from Stalham members may be delivered to Adams & Howling, which would please our vice-chairman, Chris Borrett, or delivered to Neal Sands at Sands Sprayers or members of the Frontier team. And, entries of wheat for the club's cup will be most welcome too. There is no entry fee! Entry added: 12 Oct 2018 |
Daisy is favourite.
A favourite variety of potatoes proved a hit with visitors to the HarFest at Norwich Cathedral. Tim Papworth brought a load of a crisping variety, Daisy, and managed to raise £316.52 for the East Anglia Air Ambulance. A grower for Kettle Foods, he had an odd surplus tonne of this variety to bring to the third annual event, run by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. And by coincidence, his younger daughter is called Daisy.
Entry added: 07 Oct 2018 |
Invitation to tour Kettle Foods. If you'd like to join the visit on Tuesday, October 16, please let the secretary know by 10am on Friday, October 5. Early application is advised and already eight of the 25 places have been booked.
The tour by invitation of managing director Ashley Hicks will start at 5.30pm for 6pm. Incidentally, Kettle Foods has stated that if any member is involved "in any way with a competitor, please ensure that they do not attend the visit."
Entry added: 27 Sep 2018 |
Two-acre beet.
Entries for the two-acre sugar beet competition. This will be judged in mid-October - entries to the secretary by Friday, October 12, please.
Entry added: 27 Sep 2018 |
Grain samples
These may be submitted to Adams & Howling or left by permission of Neal Sands at his firm's Brunstead works.
Entry added: 27 Sep 2018 |
Twitter
The club now has its own account - and a presence on Twitter - @StalhamFarmers - thanks to Sarah Ellero. And another member Andrew Spinks tweeted that he claims the honour of posting the first comment. According to today's statistics, our account already has 38 followers.
Entry added: 27 Sep 2018 |
Congratulations
And one of our leading members and top potato growers Tim Papworth was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today programme. 5.45am. If you missed it, then listen again to the programme, Thursday, September 27.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b0bkpjnn
Entry added: 27 Sep 2018 |
Get tweeting.
The club now has a presence on Twitter - @StalhamFarmers - thanks to Sarah Ellero. And another member Andrew Spinks tweeted that he claims the honour of posting the first comment. According to today's statistics, our account already has 38 followers. No doubt others will be taking an interest in the club's autumn programme, which starts with a visit to Kettle Foods next month.
Entry added: 24 Sep 2018 |
Opening meeting - Welcome to the 177th season. Thanks to the east Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union for mailing the programme, details of the winter season's meetings should be popping through your letterbox. If your 2018/2019 programme has not arrived in a day or two, please let the secretary know. And the first meeting, on Tuesday, October 16 will be a tour of Kettle Foods at Bowthorpe, Norwich, by invitation of the managing director, Ashley Hicks. As numbers are limited and must be booked in advance, drop a note to the secretary - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com
Entry added: 16 Sep 2018 |