PrepWorldSpain has just arrived in Valencia to offer the large retail sector its know-how,after a successful track-record of a decade in the UK
The company, owned in equal parts by Berryworld, the British berry giant, and Surexport, from Huelva, is highly specialised in red berries. In the United Kingdom, a country that has always set trends in this category, Berry World is the leader of cut fruit for the large retail sector, with a share of over 25% of the market.
The new installations, opened at the beginning of January, have been specially designed to supply an emerging Spanish cut fruit market. Based inRibarroja del Turia, it has 2,000 metros of cold storage and a white room, where the cutting and processing of the fruit is carried out, using the highest food safety standards. “We have made a factory that will guarantee the category’s success for the Spanish large retail sector, as well as for the HORECA channel,” comments Pepe Morant, general manager of PrepWorld Spain.
Exclusive high technology procedures
The executive explains that “the product undergoes a number of sanitation processes that require high technology and that are a complete innovation on the Spanish market.”
Another of the unique characteristics that PrepWorld brings to the prepared fruit sector is a meticulous heat-sealing process. Using a complex computing system, tiny adjustments are made to the micro-perforationsin the plastic film, depending on each fruit variety. The procedure allows the shelf life of each reference to be maximised.
On the other hand, skinlessfruitis dry-washed using a system that aids the reduction of pathogens and offers a sanitised, ready-to-eat product. This is the treatment used for berries(strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) and grapes.
None of the processes use artificial additives and the entire factory abides by some exhaustive cleaning and disinfection protocols.
“The practices and procedures we use here are guaranteed by the experience gained in factories in the United Kingdom, where R&D+i departments have already been created and are linked to universities. It is a very competitive advantage for lowering costs in product development.”
Another of the important values involved in belonging to a world-wide group is the supplying of globalised goods twelve months of the year, along with the savings in different shared departments, such as R&D, QA or marketing.
Production
The new Valencian company, with an investment valued at 2 million euros, has a preparation capacity of 3,000 tubs per hour and it can work in two shifts.
It has a very extensive range references, with particular prevalence of strawberries and berries. “Our aim involves using these products as the focal point for all the formats, although we are ready to work with other types of fruit and formats.”
PrepWorld works with its own specifications for its two brands: Fruhi and Sunrisa, which it will officially present at Fruit Logistica 2019, as well as developing customised specifications for each client.
