by Becky Hawes | Jun 9, 2023 | News
GrowUp Farms, the first vertical farm in the country to supply UK supermarkets with a branded salad product, is celebrating 10 years in business this week – just days after Founder and Chief Brand Officer Kate Hofman was a guest at 10 Downing Street.
The growth and success of GrowUp Farms has taken place in a decade of increasing concern about the downward trend of UK food production and the welfare of the planet. Both concerns that GrowUp Farms was originally founded to tackle.
In the past 10 years, the pioneering founders Kate Hofman and Tom Webster, have taken the concept of vertical farming from a small unit in London using aquaponic methods, to a huge vertical farm, (called Pepperness) in Kent which, backed by £100 million investment, is supplying UK supermarkets with a branded bagged salad.
But GrowUp Farms is unique among UK vertical farms because it uses on-site renewable energy and can therefore grow food with a lighter environmental footprint and a more resilient supply chain and has not been exposed to energy price hikes that have affected other growers so badly.
The farm’s success has led to Hofman being invited to the Downing Street Farm to Food summit as an industry expert, and to the farm itself being featured heavily recently on ITV and BBC TV news reports into the vertical farming industry.
“GrowUp Farms has spent 10 years developing the technology and expertise to get to this point: growing salad leaves in the UK all-year-round commercially” says Kate Hofman.
“Now we have nailed that and are the first vertical farm to supply a branded salad product to UK supermarkets, we are working hard towards launching a range of salads this summer, as well as expanding the variety of produce we can grow at Pepperness. Our R&D team are already solving some of the challenges that will allow us to grow other crops such as identifying heritage seed varieties that can’t be grown conventionally and improving the growth cycle of certain plants. Vertical farming is very much a long-term solution to the problems we are seeing.”
Hofman and Webster started the company in response to some of the huge problems with food production and sustainability they could see in this country, not least the fact that the UK relies on importing 67% of the salad we eat each year, and over 90% in the winter.
“In the 10 years since GrowUp Farms began its journey, these problems have, if anything, worsened” says Hofman.
This year saw a 40-year low in domestic salad production, due to a combination of soaring energy and other production costs, and subsequent shortages in UK supermarkets, because of the country’s dependence on overseas for food. In the past month the NFU has warned that time is running out to safeguard UK farming, and only last week the Prime Minister held an emergency food summit at Downing Street, which Hofman attended. This is all against a background of a cost-of-living crisis which is affecting everyone in the country and has seen food inflation soar to record highs.
“We worked hard to bring down the cost of production and perfect the ideal conditions for our crops to thrive” says Hofman. “And, in February this year GrowUp Farms became the very first UK vertical farm to supply a branded salad to UK supermarkets with the launch of Fresh Leaf Co., and we’re excited about bringing more products to market in the coming months.”
These launches demonstrate the role that vertical farms can play in helping the UK become more self-sufficient and being able to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables all year round.
“In addition to creating a more resilient supply chain in the UK,” continues Hofman, “our bagged salads are ready to eat, don’t need to be washed in chlorine, aren’t grown with any pesticides or chemicals, are affordable, and last longer than other bagged salads, due to the way they are grown. Longer lasting leaves mean less waste which is better for purses and better for the environment.
”We want to continue to play a key role in helping the UK to end its over-reliance on imports of salads. We solve problems in food production by growing food better, in perfect conditions. We can grow the best quality crops year-round in this country, and our controlled environment means we’re resilient to climate change and its impacts on farming.
“We’re part of the evolution of the great British farming tradition, helping to build a more sustainable food system for the UK. We are doing things differently and making it mainstream, and businesses like ours have never been more needed for UK food production.”
by GrowUp Admin | Jun 7, 2023 | News
GrowUp Farms, a pioneering vertical farm that completed its topping-out ceremony just under a year ago has been granted planning permission by Dover District Council to extend.
GrowUp Farms’ Pepperness site at Discovery Park near Sandwich has been given the green light to push ahead with expansion plans that will raise the height of the current farm to 24.87 metres from 18.9 metres to accommodate more growing chambers, which will help the farm to increase its output by 40%. There will also be a new chiller building with loading bays, a new plant building, parking spaces for 30 cars, and three HGV vehicles and provision of 27 ground level cooler units.
Talking about getting the go-ahead for the extension, Tom Ehrman, Engineering Director at GrowUp Farms, said: “I am delighted to report that planning consent has been granted for the extension of our Pepperness farm. This allows us to quadruple farm output while doubling the number of full-time farm employees from 30 to 60. I would like to thank everyone involved in the process, particularly Dover District Council for their ongoing support.”
GrowUp Farms was the first vertical farm in the UK to launch a branded salad into a major supermarket group with the launch of Fresh Leaf Co. into Iceland stores across the UK earlier this year.
The planning consent is the icing on the cake for GrowUp Farms, which celebrates 10 years in business this week – just days after Founder and Chief Brand Officer Kate Hofman was a guest at 10 Downing Street for the Farm to Food summit as an industry expert.
In the past 10 years, the pioneering founders, Kate and Tom Webster, have taken the concept of vertical farming from a small unit in London using aquaponic methods, to the huge vertical farm, Pepperness, following a £100 million investment last year.
Kate said: “It’s been a busy 10 months since we launched GrowUp Farms at Discovery Park with the GrowUp Farms team working round the clock to help us achieve our goal of being the first vertical farm to launch a branded salad into a major supermarket chain.
“Getting the green light from the planning department at Dover District Council means we can really start to ramp up production at Pepperness, supplying more Fresh Leaf Co. to Iceland stores around the country as well as launching a new salad brand later this year.
“Our R&D team are working hard to solve some of the challenges that will allow us to grow other crops such as identifying heritage seed varieties that can’t be grown conventionally and improving the growth cycle of certain plants. Vertical farming is very much a long-term solution to the problems we have seen recently caused by climate change and issues with supply chains, which have led to a shortage of salad vegetables in supermarkets for fresh produce.
“The UK relies on importing 67% of the salad we eat each year, and over 90% in the winter. Our farm at Pepperness is going to play a key role, alongside traditional farming, in helping the UK end its over-reliance on imports, and getting this planning permission is going to go a long way in helping us to achieve that goal.
“Discovery Park is the perfect location for our farm, and we are thrilled to be able to be part of the really supportive business community there as well as being an employer of local people.”
by Becky Hawes | May 24, 2023 | News
GrowUp Farms is thrilled to announce that we’ve been named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023! This recognition celebrates organisations that excel in creating outstanding employee experiences and prioritising well-being. Just as we cultivate the ideal environment for our plants to flourish, we are equally committed to fostering a thriving, supportive atmosphere for our team.
At GrowUp Farms, we understand that happy employees are the foundation of success. That’s why we constantly assess what makes our team feel valued, fulfilled, and supported both professionally and personally. Whether it’s through promoting collaboration, offering development opportunities, or ensuring work-life balance, we are dedicated to nurturing a workplace where everyone can grow.
Our inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 highlights our commitment to listening to our employees and putting their well-being at the heart of our business. The awards, in partnership with WorkL, use a comprehensive 26-point survey to assess employee satisfaction, collaboration, and engagement. Achieving a spot in the top 100 small businesses category is a testament to the incredible team culture we’ve built together.
We are proud that our employees’ voices are being heard and that their feedback drives our efforts to create a positive and harmonious workplace. Recognition like this motivates us to continue building a team environment where everyone feels appreciated and empowered.
If you’re inspired to join a company that values your growth and well-being, explore our current opportunities! We’re always looking for passionate individuals to become part of the GrowUp family. Follow the link to apply and start your journey with us: Join GrowUp Farms.
Here’s to growing together – as a team, as a business, and as a community! 🌱
![GrowUp and Wilder Carbon partnership on the BBC News]()
by GrowUp Admin | May 19, 2023 | News
Ben Amory of GrowUp Farms speaks to BBC Southeast about how investing in the right kind of high-quality projects, such as Heather Corrie Vale, is a great way to help fight climate change.
by GrowUp Admin | May 17, 2023 | News
Kate Hofman, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of the first UK vertical farm in the UK to supply supermarkets with a branded salad product attended Rishi Sunak’s Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street on 16th May 2023 and says she urged the government to extend the sustainable farming incentives to Vertical Farms – which are playing a crucial part in making the UK more self-sufficient in food production.
GrowUp Farms, which grows salad crops commercially all year round in perfect conditions in its farm in Sandwich, Kent, was the only Vertical Farm invited to the summit, at which industry experts discussed the rising cost of food, labour shortages, and the UK’s dependence on overseas for its food.
Other attendees included Chris Butler, Managing Director of Thanet Earth, Florian Richter, Founder of Muddy Machines, and Simon Pearson from Lincoln University.
“The UK relies on importing 67% of the salad we eat each year, and over 90% in the winter, and UK salad production is at its lowest point in 40 years,” says Kate Hofman, “and our dependence on other countries for vegetable crops and other produce inevitably plays a part in the rising cost of food prices for the consumer in the UK.”
“I was very happy to be invited, as a pioneering vertical farm, because it demonstrates that the Government is starting to understand how vertical farmers can be part of the solution to a range of challenges domestic food production is facing. Using less water, less nitrogen, producing less waste and with zero agricultural runoff and no pesticides, vertical farming could enable England to meet its Environmental goals much more quickly. What we now need is a level playing field for all producers of high quality food that delivers positive environmental impact so that we can produce even more sustainable and affordable food for shoppers.”
Pepperness, GrowUp Farms’ commercial-scale vertical farm in Kent, represents a £100m investment, will support over 80 high-skilled sustainable agricultural jobs, and produces environmentally friendly fresh produce year-round in the UK.
Their crops are grown using renewable energy, and as a registered B Corp, combating climate change and having a positive impact on the planet, is at the heart of everything GrowUp Farms does.
GrowUp Farms has achieved an industry first with the launch of a salad brand grown in the UK all year in a vertical farm. Fresh Leaf Co is affordable and lasts longer than other bagged salads, mainly due to the way it is grown.
It combines its innovative farming technology with renewable energy. This is cheaper and more efficient and means GrowUp Farms is not affected by the labour shortages and gas prices squeezing greenhouse and conventional farmers in the UK.
by GrowUp Admin | May 16, 2023 | News
GrowUp Farms – the first vertical farm to launch a branded salad into a major supermarket group – joins an innovative nature-based carbon-removal project as the first vertical farm to meet the Approved Buyer criteria for the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate. This new partnership will help GrowUp Farms fight climate change and boost biodiversity in Kent.
GrowUp Farms, a registered B Corp and a pioneer in vertical farming with a farm in Kent, has recently launched Fresh Leaf Co.® into Iceland stores across the UK. Fresh Leaf Co. is the first-ever branded salad available to buy in a major supermarket group and is being described as an “industry first” with the launch of a salad brand grown by a vertical farm commercially in the UK all year.
In its drive to be an industry leading sustainable food business, GrowUp Farms has become the first Approved Buyer of carbon units generated by the Heather Corrie Vale wilding project, which is located on a former abandoned golf course in the Darenth Valley in Kent.
The wilding project is certified under the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate, a not-for-profit natural climate solution, for which Kent Wildlife Trust is a Trusted Deliverer.
Heather Corrie Vale is one of the first live Wilder Carbon projects and GrowUp Farms will now be directly contributing towards the transformation of the site. As an Approved Buyer, GrowUp Farms has shown that it meets the Wilder Carbon Standard, which ensures that only those businesses that are taking steps to demonstrably reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change can be involved.
Kate Hofman, founder and Chief Brand Officer of GrowUp Farms, said: “We are thrilled to be the first Approved Buyer of Wilder Carbon credits from Heather Corrie Vale and to meet Wilder Carbon’s high standards when it comes to being an Approved Buyer.”
“We are a low-carbon salad producer that has recently launched the first branded salad from a vertical farm into a major supermarket chain. Our crops are grown using renewable energy, and as a registered B Corp, combating climate change and having a positive impact on the planet, is at the heart of everything we do. We are also keen to be part of the long-term solution to ending the UK’s over-reliance on fruit and vegetable imports.”
“However, there’s always more we can do to fight climate change. Investing in the right kind of high-quality projects such as Heather Corrie Vale that remove carbon and boost biodiversity is one of the best ways we can do this.”
“We are really impressed with all the hard work that Wilder Carbon and Kent Wildlife Trust have put in to make pioneering projects like this possible. We’re absolutely delighted to be working with them and are looking forward to supporting more nature-based carbon removal in the future.”
Sarah Brownlie, Wilder Carbon, said: “We are delighted to see Grow-Up Farms partnering with Kent Wildlife Trust to directly contribute towards a certified Wilder Carbon project that will lock up carbon whilst also improving biodiversity abundance.”
“The climate and nature crises are intertwined, and Wilder Carbon projects deliver solutions to both by restoring nature and its natural processes.”
“By working with businesses like Grow-Up Farms, who have shown a real commitment to reducing their own emissions we can offer long-term carbon lock-up by restoring our valuable native habits here in the UK.”
Kent Wildlife Trust. Registered Charity no. 239992.
https://www.wildercarbon.com/
