Morrisons to acquire banana ripening facility
Morrisons has announced plans to acquire a banana ripening facility as it looks to have more control over the quality of the fruit.
Morrisons said the Del Monte owned site in Boston in Lincolnshire will enable it to offer improved quality and consistency, as well as take greater control over the ripening process.
In statement Morrisons explained: “Customers tastes vary considerably with some preferring to buy their bananas with a tinge of green in order to ripen them at home, while others want more yellow, mature bananas that are sweeter and can be eaten straight away.
“Controlling the process will allow Morrisons to ripen the fruit slower, meaning it is sweeter and lasts longer in the home.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!The 58,000 sq ft factory is nine years old and was operated by Del Monte until November 2011, when it ceased operation.
The acquisition is a joint venture with Global Pacific, who will run the site on Morrisons’ behalf. The facility will create up to 80 new jobs when it becomes operational in the autumn.
Dalton Philips, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “Bananas are the most popular fruit in the UK so it makes sense for Morrisons to apply its unique approach to food production to simplify the supply chain, cut out costs and improve quality.
“Adding this ripening factory to our business means we will be able to mature bananas more precisely to our customers different needs.”
The acquisition of the facility is the sixth addition to Morrisons’ manufacturing business since 2010, following on from meat factories in Deeside and Winsford, a produce site in Worsley, FlowerWorld in Derby and the Grimsby fish factory.
