| News
Harvest 2018 the earliest
on record for Weetabix
Nation’s favourite breakfast once again 100% British
grown despite scorching summer
eetabix is pleased
to confirm that
following the
earliest
Northamptonshire
harvest in its 85-
year history, it will once again be
able to meet its commitment to
sourcing all of its Weetabix wheat
from British farms within 50 miles of
its Burton Latimer mill.
A record-breaking hot dry
summer, following a wet start and
extended cold spell in April, created
challenging growing conditions for
the local farmers on which Weetabix
relies. Since 2010, weather
permitting, Weetabix’s Growers
Group of approximately 160 local
farmers have provided all of the
high quality British wheat that
makes it into each and every bowl
of Weetabix.
Hitesh Bhatia, Strategic Sourcing
Manager at Weetabix said: “Thanks
to the hard work and dedication of
our farmers, I can confirm that once
again every single one of the 365
grains found in each Weetabix
biscuit will come from local farms.
W
We work closely with our Growers
Group to secure the highest quality
British wheat produced to the most
responsible standards.”
Instead of buying wheat on the
open market, Weetabix exclusively
buys wheat for Weetabix biscuits
from two local wheat merchants,
Gleadell and Fengrain. Each
sources grain from farms committed
to the Weetabix Growers Group
protocol which governs quality,
consistency, traceability,
environmental sustainability. All 160
farms must also lie within 50 miles
of the Weetabix factory in Burton
Latimer.
Farmer James Wheeler, whose
farm in Northamptonshire supplies
wheat through Gleadell to Weetabix,
said: “Being part of the Growers
Group means we operate to strict
protocols and work closely with
Weetabix. This makes sure the very
best British wheat makes it to
breakfast tables. In return, we get
information to continuously improve
our output. For example, for every
truck of harvested wheat tipped at
Weetabix’s manufacturing plant in
06 | Farming Monthly | September 2018
Burton Latimer, we receive a text
back that tells us key information
about the quality of our grain. This
helps us monitor our harvest output
in real time.”
Jonathan Lane, Trading Director
at grain merchants Gleadell, said:
“It’s terrific to see British farmers
delivering such a good quality
harvest under challenging
conditions. They are not alone in
facing weather related challenges.
Farmers right across Northern
Europe and Scandinavia have had
to deal with difficult growing
conditions.”
Weetabix has proudly produced
Britain’s favourite breakfast cereal
from its Burton Latimer factory in
Northamptonshire for over 80 years.
Made f