A Scottish potato business has invested in new technology including an automatic spud sorter on the back of a £1 million funding deal.
FIMM Potatoes, based in Muthill, Perthshire and which supplies table and seed potatoes to the customers across the UK, Europe, North Africa and Middle East, has used the HSBC finance facility to buy the latest optical potato grader which will help increase throughput by up to 100%.
The new equipment will also reduce repetitive manual labour for FIMM’s 10-strong team, allowing them to focus on other tasks as the business looks to grow.
Mike McDiarmid, director at FIMM Potatoes, said: “It is an important time for the sector and the new optical grader will modernise our equipment and help to safeguard the business.
John Robertson, agriculture director for East of Scotland at HSBC, said: “FIMM demonstrated a clear strategy for improving and growing its operations. We were delighted to help with the purchase of the new grader which will have a hugely positive impact on the business and its customers.”
The finance was part of HSBC UK’s national SME Fund. Some £650 million of the fund is ear-marked for Scottish businesses.
Last month another Perthshire potato producer, Branston, launched a recruitment drive for more staff after a run on tubers left it racing to meet demand.
