Nationwide Produce is significantly expanding its Anglia Grower Partnership (AGP) onion packhouse in Long Sutton, nearly doubling its size in response to rising production and demand.
The £5.5 million investment will increase the site’s footprint from 40,000 to 75,000 sq ft. The expansion also includes enhanced welfare facilities and the introduction of advanced machinery and robotics to improve efficiency.
While construction is ongoing and expected to finish by June 2025, the AGP packhouse will remain fully operational throughout, gradually transitioning to the expanded facility.
AGP, a division of Nationwide Produce Group, specialises in storing, grading, and packing onions.
Nationwide chairman Tim O’Malley confirmed that the business, previously a joint venture with QV Foods, is now wholly owned by Nationwide Produce. A rebranding under the Nationwide Produce name is planned for later in 2025.
The onion operation works closely with Richmond Farms, the farming arm of the Nationwide Produce Group.
“The investment will allow AGP to continue expanding,” said Nationwide’s group director David Noton.
Richmond Farms cultivates approximately 850 acres of onions and is part of a grower group responsible for producing 52,000 tonnes of onions annually. Each week, AGP processes about 1,200 tonnes of raw onions, yielding 650,000 retail packs.
With the expansion, the facility’s production lines will increase from three to five, enabling Nationwide to boost supply to its existing customers.
David Noton highlighted that the upgrade provides the business with room for continued growth, as the facility was previously “at the upper level of capacity.”
AGP supplies onions to retail, wholesale, foodservice, and processing sectors, but Noton noted that increasing demand from supermarkets and the Evesham branch’s internal requirements are driving growth. He attributed this to retailers’ efforts to source more English onions, supporting domestic growers and shortening the import window.
As part of wider agricultural advancements, Richmond Farms is set to introduce camera-guided sprayers this spring, allowing for precise weed targeting and a reduction in chemical use.
This expansion comes as Nationwide Produce marks its 50th anniversary. The family-run business has grown significantly, reaching a turnover of £186.3 million for 2023/24. It now employs over 300 staff across its operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain, serving more than 1,000 customers across Europe.
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