Hoping for a record year

A SHROPSHIRE organic farm is expecting a record year after ploughing cash into a new mill and packing machinery which could see it triple sales in 2010.

Pimhill Farm – run by Ginny Mayall and husband Ian Anderson at Harmer Hill – has invested £60,000 in expansion plans which should see the business produce and sell more than 75 tonnes of its organic muesli, jumbo oats and porridge, compared to just 15 tonnes in 2009.

Helped by a £23,000 Rural Enterprise Grant, the business has replaced two vertical stones from the 1950s with a new horizontal stone grinding mill.

In addition, the enterprising duo have also installed a new sieve system for producing strong white flour, and constructed a HEFF-approved pod that will house two packaging lines for more efficient production.

Pimhill used the REG money to bring the planned investment forward and with production already up 90 per cent in just three months, this is already leading to five part-time jobs and an expected turnover of £250,000 by 2012.

Challenges

Ian, who was previously farm manager on a 4,500 acre estate, said: "We are essentially a mixed dairy and arable farm, but recognised that, with the challenges facing rural businesses, we needed to look at ways in which we could diversify to create additional revenue.

"Our mill was first established during the 1950s and we have continued to produce a range of products that have been sold into local farm shops and for box scheme specialists.

"With the excellent support of the REG grant, we channelled £60,000 into installing the horizontal mill and new packing area that not only boosted efficiency but also gave us the opportunity to triple volumes."

Ginny added: "The organic market is worth a staggering £2 billion and we knew from current customer demand that we could increase the number of people buying our products.

"The change in equipment has given us the platform and now our role is to go out there and sell it. We re-launched with a stand at the Speciality Fine Food Show in London that has resulted in firm interest from several new customers and three new distributors."

Caroline Cattle, Rural Enterprise Grants manager, said: "Farms are increasingly exploring new areas of activity in order to offset tough conditions and Pimhill is no different.

"The initial results are extremely promising and this bodes well for future growth and local job creation."