Staffordshire farm partners with Central England Co-op to bring its locally produced and award-winning crisps into 48 stores across the area
Posted by james brindle | Published: 09/05/2019
A Staffordshire farm’s award-winning crisps will now be stocked by a major retailer in 48 of its stores as Lichfield-based Central England Co-op reaffirmed its commitment to offering customers high quality locally-sourced products.
The retailer has linked up with Just Crisps to sell a selection of their 100% British potato crisps in stores within a 50 mile radius of the Hill Ridware farm where the crisps are produced.
The Froggatt family has been farming the land in Staffordshire for four generations, caring for the land through sustainable farming, and have been making their much-celebrated Just Crisps since 2011, winning multiple Great Taste Awards during that time.
Every element of production of the crisps is done on the farm. The potatoes are grown and harvested in the fields – which also includes a 25-acre lake providing a sustainable water source – before being cooked in the farm’s own cold-pressed rapeseed oil, hand-flavoured, bagged and boxed on site.
The farm have also designed and produced their own energy-efficient fryer, built in Tamworth and housed at the farm, to ensure zero food miles are required for the manufacture of a Just Crisp.
Jennifer Hargrave, Local Buyer at Central England Co-op, said: “We are really proud of continuing our long tradition of working with local suppliers by joining forces with Just Crisps.
“As well as producing their quality, award-winning crisps, they also share a similar ethos to ourselves, with firm commitments to sustainable production, protecting the environment, energy reduction and recycling food waste.
“Just Crisps will add to our fantastic range of locally-sourced products available in our stores, from real ales brewed in Abbots Bromley and cakes from Fatherson Bakery in Alcester, to Leicestershire Eggs, available in all our Leicestershire stores.”
David Wedgwood, Commercial Director at Just Crisps, said they were ‘delighted’ to partner with Central England Co-op to make their 100% British crisps available to even more local crisp lovers.
He said: “As a local, family farming business we are delighted to have the support of Central England Co-op. We believe our story of provenance being the only 100% British crisp, is highly appealing to Co-op shoppers who are passionate about sustainable farming.”
The retailer is introducing Just Crisps Sea Salt and Sea Salt and Apple Balsamic Vinegar flavour crisps into a selection of its stores within a 50 mile radius of the farm and they will also be available as part of its lunchtime meal deal.
Keep up-to-date with the latest deals at Central England Co-op by visiting https://www.centralengland.coop/deals/
To find out more about the Just Crisps story visit www.justcrisps.co.uk
Notes to editors
Just Crisps are now available in the following stores:
- Lichfield, Boley Park
- Alrewas, Main Street
- Barton Under Needwood, Crowberry Lane
- Stafford, Weeping Cross, Lynton Avenue
- Stafford, Wildwood, Cannock Road
- Stretton, Eton Park, Princess Way
- Burton On Trent, Castle Park, Horninglow Road North
- Rolleston-on-dove, Burnside Road
- Willington, Repton Road
- Stretton, Main Street
- Sutton Coldfield, Walmley Close
- Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham Road
- Quinton, Quinton Rd West
- Sheldon, Church Road
- Chaddesden, Sussex Circus
- Chaddesden, Wollaton Road
- Rowley Regis, Oldbury Road
- Birmingham, Shard End Crescent
- Heatherton Village, District Centre
- Sunnyhill, Stenson Road
- Kings Heath, Dad's Lane
- Shirley, Monks Path
- Norton, Glebe Lane
- Kingstanding, Kingstanding Road
- Acocks Green, Gospel Lane
- Holme Hall, Wardgate Way
- Yardley, Stoney Lane
- Birmingham, Marsh Lane
- Derby, Kedleston Road
- Chaddesden, Lexington Road
- Alvaston, Brackens Lane
- Little Eaton, Alfreton Road
- West Bromwich, Hill Top
- Oakwood, Smalley Drive
- Kings Heath, Vicarage Road
- Duffield, Town Street
- Derby, Ashbourne Road
- Halesowen, Spies Lane
- Bentley Heath, Widney Road
- Ashbourne, Shawcroft Centre, Dig Street
- Kingshurst, The Parade
- Dronfield Woodhouse, Pentland Road
- Alvaston, Holbrook Road
- Dudley, Dibdale Road West
- Great Barr, Walsall Rd
- Littleover, Burton Road
- Northfield, West Heath Road
- Stirchley, Hazelwell Street
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK.
It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.
Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2019.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop
About Just Crisps Ltd
Just Crisps are the only British crisp producer exclusively frying in British cold pressed rapeseed oil and British potatoes, unlike all others that use imported sunflower oil. There is as much as 35% oil in a potato crisp.
Rapeseed oil is a healthier oil – 35% less saturated fat and lower levels of acrylamide verses Sunflower.
Just Crisps are sliced with skins on and starch washed off for uniquely deliciously crisp kettle cooked crisp.
Our premium kettle crisps, roasted peas & beans have won eight Great Taste Awards, acknowledging our quality. We are the only Happerley Transparent accredited crisp producer.
A growing business we employ 10 people, across our production, sales, marketing and administration functions.
We have recently invested in a new fryer, having designed it ourselves to improve efficiency; we have used a leading local engineering company to build it. This will allow us to quadruple our capacity.
Our crisps are available through pubs, food service outlets, farm shops and delis. More recently we have started supplying zero waste stores with our crisps in reusable containers. We have a growing export business to Europe, USA and the Far East.
Just Crisps is based at Wade Lane Farm a fourth generation farming business, based in Hill Ridware Staffordshire, principally growing rapeseed, potatoes, wheat and barley.
Our sister company Just Oils produces award winning Cold Pressed Extra Virgin rapeseed oil, crushed and bottled on the farm. Available across the Midlands and nationally in supermarkets, farm shops and delis.
We welcome visits to the farm and factory; for more information please contact David Wedgwood, Commercial Director, Just Crisps/Just Oil Ltd, david@justcrisps.co.uk 07977 284003/01543 493081 www.justcrisps.co.uk