PRESS RELEASE

Airdrie based potato supplier Albert Bartlett triumphed at the 2009 Re:fresh Awards, seeing off finalists QV Foods and Alfred G Pearce, to take home the ‘Packer of the Year’ award. Winning for the second year, Albert Bartlett’s consistency, environmental excellence and attention to detail in the packaging sector won the judges over.

Operating from three UK packing sites, Albert Bartlett supplies Britain with one of six of its fresh potatoes including Rooster, the UK’s leading fresh potato brand, now widely available in UK retailers. With an expansive marketing campaign for Rooster and the support of Michelin-starred chefs Michel Roux and Andrew Fairlie, the Rooster brand has seen a significant 45 per cent increase year on year in the 52 weeks to March. In addition to the Rooster production, Albert Bartlett also produces the popular Anya, Osprey and Vivaldi potato varieties exclusively.

Recognised for their dedication and commitment to the packing industry, all of Albert Bartlett’s UK packing sites are British Retail Consortium-accredited. Product innovation and upstanding strict environmental practises is key to the company’s on-site success. An example of this can be seen in the building management system at Albert Bartlett’s Airdrie facility, which is 99 per cent self-sufficient in water, as a result of an onsite water harvesting and treatment plant.

John Hicks, Marketing Manager and Gillian Kynoch, Head of Development and Innovation, accepted the award on behalf of Albert Bartlett. John Hicks commented, “At Albert Bartlett, we take great pride in being one of the UK’s leading fresh potato producers and work closely with all our growers and breeders, to develop new varieties which will appeal to the customer’s needs. We have engaged consumers with varieties which deliver great taste and consistency, ensuring we help address the consumers need for quality, value and inspiration.”