Company History
From a farmers’ co-operative to a leader in fresh produce...
1968
The Beginning
A group of farmers collaborate to grow and market potatoes and peas – Branston Potatoes plc is formed and for the next seven years the growers produce potatoes – mainly for processing.
1976
Processing to Wholesale
The drought forces investment in irrigation, and this along with new machinery and careful variety selection leads to a gradual shift from processing to wholesale.
1980
Environmental Control
Branston invests heavily in environmentally-controlled storage.
1982
Business is Growing
Graeme Beattie joins as Managing Director. Volume grows to 15,000 tonnes a year. We celebrate... our first retail customer (Gerrards).
1986
Prepack
Our first prepack potatoes are produced.
1987
Grading Potatoes
We begin size grading potatoes and now employ around 80 people.
1988
Retail Growth
Supermarkets gain ground, wholesale suffers... but no supermarket would take us seriously without a modern factory. We welcome nine more North Lincoln growers to the co-op.
1990
New Factory
Branston invests £1m in a new packing factory.
1991
Tesco
Branston starts packing for Tesco.
1992
The Branston Company
The Branston company becomes Branston Potatoes Ltd.
1993
Seed Potatoes
We become partners in a seed potato business.
1995
Expansion Continues
As volume increases (up to 38,000 tonnes now) we extend our Lincoln factory.
1997
New Site
We acquire our South West site and volume leaps to 75,000 tonnes.
1998
Website
Launch of our first website.
2001
New Logo and New Office
A strategic alliance with WCF potatoes in Scotland, a new logo and new offices.
2002
We Get Lean
We bring in world-renowned McKinsey & Co to implement Lean production principles throughout our factories.
2003
Storage Project
£1.1m cold storage project.
2004
Our Scottish Site
Acquisition of our Scottish site in Perth - we now have three great, well positioned sites across the UK.
2005
Branston Prepared Foods
Branston Prepared foods starts producing ready-to-cook veg.
2008
Carbon Trust Standard
Branston becomes the first food producer in the UK to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of our ongoing commitment to reducing our carbon intensity.
2009
Green Technologies
£2m investment in green technologies – Anaerobic digestion and an integrated water recycling plant help us reduce cost and carbon.
2011
Additional Green Investments
We invest £1m in a water recycling plant at the South West site.
2012
Waitrose and Booker
We start supplying two new customers - Waitrose and Booker.
2013
Carbon Trust Water Standard
We’re one of the first companies to be awarded the Carbon Trust Water Standard.
2014
Treading Lightly Award
We receive a Treading Lightly Award from Waitrose for Carbon Reduction.
2016
Peeling Facility
New Peeling facility opens at our Lincoln site.
2018
50 Years!
We celebrate - 50 years in potatoes!
2019
We Start Supplying Sweet Potatoes
2020
Key Workers
Our Key Workers rally to ensure production continues throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021
Protein Extraction Plant
Work starts on Protein extraction plant and Prepared factory expansion.
2022
Prepared Extension
Prepared extension adds more cooking options and expands our product range.
2024
Mash & Protein Factories open
Expanding into new markets and getting the best out of all our potatoes