£30,000 cash boost for farm bottling plant
COLLINGHAM-based agri-business Wharfe Valley Farms has received a £30,000 cash boost to expand its rapeseed oil production.
The farm, which is the only Northern producer of cooking grade rapeseed oil, is planning to use the Yorkshire Forward grant to expand its bottling plant and improve efficiency.
Since diversifying into oil production in 2006, the Kilby family, who run the business, have seen the number of stockists and sales rise dramatically.
The cold pressed extra virgin rapeseed oil has also proved a hit at the family’s farm shop Lilac Farm, which already had a reputation for asparagus, courgettes, potatoes and PYO soft fruit. A livery business is also run on site.
Sallyann Kilby said: “It is good to be working in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward on the next phase of our exciting expansion programme.
“The funding means that we will be more efficient and, as a result, able to satisfy our rapidly expanding markets. It also means that we will be able to launch additional, complementary product lines.”
Wharfe Valley Farms has also become one of only three culinary rapeseed oil producers to achieve Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) accreditation.
The accreditation has been a hailed a success in helping smaller food maufacturers sell directly to major retailers as they can be sure all food safety and legal standards have been complied with.
