OXNARD, CA - Big things are happening for Mission Produce™ across the pond. The supplier has announced expansion plans for its forward distribution center in Dartford, England, to double ripening capacity and establish mango operations.
“We’ve been growing our business in the U.K. by delivering on our commitment to be the go-to supplier of high-quality, ripe avocados—so with our facility expansion, we’re getting ready to grow even more and unlock the potential for mangos in the market,” said Paul Frowde, Managing Director, Mission Produce Europe and U.K. “We’re leveraging the capabilities of our global network and vertical integration to bring our customers the convenience of partnering with one supplier to expertly ripen both commodities, driven by our operational excellence.”
Mission’s expansion plans include the addition of 50 percent more Mission Control ripening rooms, a mango-specific operations area, and additional cold storage and warehouse space. According to a release, completion is expected in spring 2024.
To complete this expansion, Mission Produce continues its partnership with Cross Group to advance the facility with a cutting-edge specialized mango sorting and packing line. The group will also help equip the facility with additional warehouse and cold storage capacity and more ripe rooms featuring Mission Control, the company’s exclusive atmosphere-control ripening process.
“Consistent quality is key to promoting a positive consumer experience with mangos, so we’re leaning on our mastery in the art of ripening and industry-leading technology to create that reliability,” said Michael O’Sullivan, Senior Commercial Manager, Mission Produce U.K. “In the U.K. market, there is plenty of opportunity to drive demand for mangos. I believe that we’re well-positioned with a world-class supply chain to become the highest-quality product on the shelf.”
Keep clicking on AndNowUKnow to see this project unfold.