National potato supplier Branston has announced it is opening a mashed potato facility to produce and supply leading UK supermarkets with the prepared family favourite.
A new venture for the company, which currently handles 350,000 tonnes of potatoes for fresh and prepared products, the mashed potato facility will expand Branston’s capabilities and enhance its long-term sustainability. It is due to be operational by spring 2024 and will be led by Wayne Mansfield, mash production manager.
He said: “We’ve seen demand for prepared potatoes growing over the years and mash was one product that we weren’t able to produce in-house. It needs highly specialised equipment to produce the quality and consistency as well as the right potatoes. With our potato expertise and access to the best varieties it was a natural decision for Branston to invest in a mash facility.
We got the go-ahead last October, and after much planning and investigation into sourcing the best possible kit, construction began in March this year. We’re aiming for commissioning in December, ready for technical validation of the product range early in 2024. The build is well under way, and we’re installing state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the process is as efficient as possible, transforming fresh potatoes into chilled mash in under two hours.