Swedeponic U K

Swedeponic U K began operating in Bourne in October 1998, producing fresh herbs for retail and industrial markets from a purpose built glasshouse complex on the Spalding Road. The location was chosen because it is just a few miles away from Spalding which is a major transport hub for fresh produce and is also close to the Bourne Salads (Geest) plant. Their customers for retail herbs include the Asda and Morrison supermarket chains.

The name of the firm is derived from Swede because the ideas and technological skills on which the company's ethos is based all originate in Sweden and ponic because production is based on the hydroponic growing system adapted and developed over the last 15 years to a high level of technical sophistication. The water-based system, simply explained, involves the planting of seeds in pots at one end of the greenhouse and the harvesting of perfect young plants at the other some weeks later.

The market for fresh pot herbs and lettuces was developed in Sweden and they were also one of the first nations to recognise that you are what you eat. Their ideas have spread through the rest of Europe in recent years although the Swedish market remains the most developed in Europe for herbs and lettuces in pots.

All herbs are grown without the use of pesticides and organic certification was achieved in September 2001, the first U K potted herb producer to do so. In April 2001 Swedeponic U K also achieved the British Retail Consortium foundation level, which is fast becoming the basic standard required for supplying U K supermarkets. The company is also proud to have achieved recognition by the Investors in People scheme, a U K project designed to help businesses train and develop staff to achieve company goals.

Swedeponic U K is part of the European Swedeponic Group, employing a total of 30 full and part time staff. In January 2000, the company and its managing director Patrick Bastow were honoured in the annual Grower of the Year awards in recognition of their success in the horticultural industry since they began production.

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