Industry still

7 February 1997

Industry still

fragmented

FRAGMENTATION still characterises parts of the potato industry, so Anglian Produces chairman Robin Pooley told delegates.

While the five main supermarkets sell nearly 90% of retail potatoes and less than 1000 farmers grow over 70% of the crop, there remain over 50 separate companies supplying the five supermarkets.

Ultimately, there will be three or fewer 1m tonnes-plus, vertically integrated groupings, dominant in the 8.5m tonnes total British potato market, predicted Mr Pooley.