A fruit and vegetable business has undergone a huge expansion.
Nationwide Produce has expanded its Evesham warehouse by 75 per cent thanks to a £3.5m loan from Lloyds Bank.
The development comes amid rising demand, with the site growing from 32,000 sq ft to 56,000 sq ft and the business’ pallet capacity rising from 900 to 2,100, meaning more stock can be stored at the warehouse.
Tim O’Malley, group managing director at Nationwide Produce, said: “As a global importer, and UK and EU exporter, we are seeing a rise in demand for fresh produce from customers across all sectors of the market.
“Last year, our turnover was above pre-pandemic levels at £143 million and we’re already set to see a record-breaking turnover of £185 million this year as we meet demand for increased volume.”
“The new warehouse space will be vital in helping maximise this opportunity for growth by helping us work more efficiently, improve and expand our product line, and ultimately, provide our customers with an even better service.
“We’re also committed to driving decarbonisation within the company and are proud to say 100% of the power needed to run our UK depots and offices is being produced from renewable energy sources, including our recently installed solar panels.”
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Nationwide Produce started life in Lancashire as Bernard O’Malley and Sons almost 50 years ago.
The company approached Lloyd Bank and secured a £3.5 million funding package for the expansion.
A number of green measures have also been introduced, with the firm using the funding to build five temperature-controlled chambers which offer an 84 per cent reduction in global warming potential.
This new technology will improve cooling performance and increase energy efficiency in the business by up to 15 per cent.
Solar panels were also installed, growing the warehouse’s renewable electricity offering by almost two-thirds and bringing capacity up to 500kW across the company’s facilities.
Nationwide Produce also implemented a new waste management process that utilises anaerobic digestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing landfill costs.
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With the expansion complete, the business is now planning to expand its product range to include frozen foods, as well as investing in new packing machinery.
John Csizmadia, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Nationwide Produce is a fantastic example of a business that puts innovation and its customers at the heart of everything is does. The new warehouse space will help the company to meet increased demand, while also expanding its offering and improving its sustainability efforts.
“We’re proud to be by the side of the business as it continues to grow and look forward to seeing the direction it takes for the future.”
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