Vitacress
Encyclopedia
Vitacress Salads Ltd. is an agriculture company headquartered in St Mary Bourne
, Andover, Hampshire
, England
. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Portugal-based company Grupo RAR
. The company, which was founded in the 1950s by Malcolm Isaac, is Europe's largest provider of watercress
, and also grows and packages washed rocket (arugula
), spinach
, and other baby salad greens. Beyond salad, the company also produces and distributes freshly harvested new potatoes. In addition to the UK, Vitacress has its own farms in Portugal
and Spain
. Vitacress supplies retailers and foodservice operators in several markets.
, Portugal
).
In 2007 Vitacress had a turnover of £81m and employed around 1,000 people. On July 1 2008, Portuguese company RAR Group reportedly bought Vitacress for £52.5 Million.
St Mary Bourne
St Mary Bourne is small village and civil parish in northwest Hampshire. It lies in the valley of the Bourne Rivulet, a tributary of the River Test 5 miles northeast of the town of Andover.-Governance:...
, Andover, Hampshire
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Portugal-based company Grupo RAR
Grupo RAR
Refinarias de Açúcar Reunidas , is a Portugal-based international industrial and agribusiness conglomerate headquartered in Porto, and active in several businesses, including sugar and fresh salads production and distribution. RAR is also the owner of packaging company ColepCCL and chocolatier...
. The company, which was founded in the 1950s by Malcolm Isaac, is Europe's largest provider of watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
, and also grows and packages washed rocket (arugula
Arugula
Eruca sativa , is an edible annual plant, commonly known as rocket, roquette, rucola or arugula, not to be confused with Wild rocket. It is a species of Eruca native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal east to Lebanon and Turkey...
), spinach
Spinach
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
, and other baby salad greens. Beyond salad, the company also produces and distributes freshly harvested new potatoes. In addition to the UK, Vitacress has its own farms in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Vitacress supplies retailers and foodservice operators in several markets.
History
The company, was founded in the 1950s by Malcolm Isaac. In addition to the UK, Vitacress started operations in Portugal and Spain. Vitacress supplied retailers in the UK under their own brand (JSainsbury or Marks & Spencers). In Portugal and Spain, in order to diversify the risk and as a way to combat the slowing of the UK Washed & Ready To Eat salad market, Vitacress decided to launch its own brand (from OdemiraOdemira
Odemira is a municipality in the Portuguese region of Alentejo with a total area of 1,720.6 km² and a total population of 25,738 inhabitants....
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
).
In 2007 Vitacress had a turnover of £81m and employed around 1,000 people. On July 1 2008, Portuguese company RAR Group reportedly bought Vitacress for £52.5 Million.