First £1 Million RDPE Investment Boosts Region’s Potato Supply Chain

18/08/2009

Yorkshire Forward has approved its first £1million RDPE investment in a potato marketing company, supporting Yorkshire and Humber’s potato growers by establishing supply chains with British supermarkets. 

York based Cockerills, which already supplies potatoes from growers in the region to two discount retailers, will be expanding its packhouse operation which washes grades and packs potatoes. The investment will double its capacity over a five year period and it is anticipated that 85 per cent of the extra potato tonnage will be sourced from our region’s growers.

RDPE, which stands for Rural Development Programme for England, has £63m to invest in rural businesses over a six year period through a number of programmes. Cockerills accessed their grant through the Rural Enterprise Investment Programme which offers grants starting from £25,000 and is available to rural businesses wanting to grow and become more productive.

In addition to the £1million RDPE grant, Cockerills is investing over £2million in expanding and developing their business. The funding will be used to build an extension on the potato packing facility at the company’s site at Dunnington near York. New equipment and machinery installed will result in automated, high speed efficient packing with a dedicated development kitchen so that cooking quality can be assessed.

Over the next five years it has been predicted that the investment will increase Cockerills turnover through their packhouse by 80 per cent and 33 new jobs will be created growing the 86 strong workforce to 119 full time equivalent posts. New and existing staff will also directly benefit from the investment with a new canteen, restroom and toilets. 

Martin Cockerill, Managing Director at Cockerills commented; “I am delighted that Cockerills will receive the additional funding needed through RDPE. We can now move forwards developing and expanding the company through improving the efficiency and doubling the capacity of our packhouse operation. Without the RDPE funding we wouldn’t have been able to fulfil our growth ambition and we would have had to scale down our plans.” 

Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director of Environment at Yorkshire Forward commented;  
“Its great news that Yorkshire Forward’s first £1million RDPE investment is supporting Yorkshire and Humber’s growers, helping ensure more of our region’s produce get into British supermarkets.

“The Rural Enterprise Investment Programme can be accessed by businesses like Cockerills that process and add value to agricultural produce, also farm diversification businesses, tourism, forestry businesses and other rural micro businesses. RDPE is a flexible package that can be accessed by many rural businesses; we are working hard with our partners to ensure Yorkshire and Humber’s rural businesses take advantage of it.”

RDPE is managed by Yorkshire Forward and is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union. For further information on the different RDPE programmes please visit; www.yorkshire-forward.com/rdpe

Ends

Notes to editors:

Yorkshire Forward
• Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region.
• Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the region is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding and Rural Development Programme for England Funding
• For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Laura Scholey, Press Manager on 0113 3949540 or email laura.scholey@yorkshire-forward.com