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Lincolnshire Herbs: Growing business in the world of herbs
THERE is a strong chance that if you bought a pot of herbs from your local supermarket, it would have started life at a company based on the edge of Bourne.
THERE is a strong chance that if you bought a pot of herbs from your local supermarket, it would have started life at a company based on the edge of Bourne.Lincolnshire Herbs, in Spalding Road, grows herbs in its vast, six acres of glasshouses, destined for supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, the Co-op and Somerfield. And so successful has been the enterprise, that it has cornered 50 per cent of the UK market. In addition, it is recognised as the UK's number one specialist producer of "grown without pesticides" potted herbs.
The figures are impressive, especially the 13.5 million pots produced in 2009. That and the fact that, according to managing director Patrick Bastow, the business has grown 15 to 20 per cent year on year for the last 10 years. The 50 staff on site help to generate a turnover of more than 5 million a year.
This is a far cry from the early days, in 1998, when Patrick set up the company to provide salad greens for Bourne Salads. It was a short-lived venture prior to moving into pots, focusing on growing six to eight core herbs including the likes of basil, coriander, parsley, mint, etcetera exclusively for supermarkets.
The key to the success of Lincolnshire Herbs is that all production is based on the one Bourne site, which makes it very efficient. But, as Patrick pointed out, it is a business that requires heavy investment, of the order of 5 million.
Recently, the company changed its name to more accurately reflect its roots and its product. It was formerly known as Swedeponic UK, and remains part of the successful Swedish herb group, Swedeponic.
"The name change couldn't be more timely, especially with the issue of local food supply becoming so important in the minds of customers," said Patrick.
It is a time of expansion for Lincolnshire Herbs, which has recently purchased additional land and gained planning permission for a further glasshouse development of 12 acres on its Bourne site.
The company also strives to be environmentally friendly, as it is committed to being a sustainable grower.
"We have worked hard to reduce our carbon footprint by collecting all our own rainwater, recycling waste water, and by using a peat-reduced compost," said Patrick. "We are working with local company Organic Recycling, based in Crowland, in an effort to use less peat."
The next big project over the coming 18 months centres on a geothermal heat initiative, to recycle heat "from the ground, via a heat pump, back to the ground", which aims to cut gas consumption by 75 per cent in 2011.
Lincolnshire Herbs continues to focus on being a high quality, low cost supplier of herbs. The Swedish system, with six to eight times spacing of the crop, generates high yield per metre squared and keeps down pest infestation.
The company continues to have a strong drive to deliver value to the customer, which is reflected, in part, in its quick turnaround. Produce is taken to the pack house throughout the day, deliveries leave from 4pm and the herbs are on supermarket shelves the following day.
The success of the business stems from the dedicated staff most of whom live in Lincolnshire. Patrick is also keen to point out that Lincolnshire Herbs, like the rest of the horticultural industry, is heavily dependent on East European labour which is "vital to the company's progress".
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