Potato firms tojoin forces

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST potato breeder and one of the country’s largest seed potato exporters have announced plans to join forces and create a new export focused company called Cygnet PEP Ltd.

Tayside-based Cygnet PB, part of Alexander Harley Seeds Ltd, and Pan European Potatoes Ltd are coming together to meet rising international demand for Scottish seed potatoes, by combining their breeding, growing and procurement programmes.

Due to be unveiled at theworld Potato Congress in Edinburgh next week, the new company will start trading on August 1, supplying potato varieties to Europe, Africa, the Far East, the Americas and Australasia.

Estimated tonnage turnover for the first year of trading is over 25,000 tonnes of seed potatoes.

Director Alasdair Maclennan said the two companies had a natural fit and had previously worked together, with PEP Ltd acting as a marketing agent for Cygnet-bred varieties in a number of countries.

He said: “As far as our customers are concerned, it’s business as usual. Aligning the country’s largest breeding programme with a global name in seed exports makes sound commercial sense and will allow us to grow seed exports and variety sales while maintaining our high standards of customer service.”

The two companies export to more than 25 countries worldwide.

“The new organisation gives an opportunity to expand this customer base and our product offering, while benefiting from shared resources and knowledge,” he added.

Seed potato production in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Holland will continue and existing office facilities and staff will largely remain the same, he confirmed.

Cygnet’s UK business will be unchanged and PEP Ltd will retain seed exports to Spanish and Portuguese territories, exports of table potatoes worldwide and imports of new potatoes and onions.