Mission Produce, a leading US avocado business, has announced plans to double its ripening capacity and expand its operations to include mangoes at its distribution centre in Dartford, UK.
The expansion project will involve increasing the number of “Mission Control ripening rooms” by 50%, establishing a designated area for mango operations, and expanding cold storage and warehouse space.
Mission Control is the company’s proprietary ripening process that accelerates the ripening of avocados.
Completion of the expansion is expected by summer next year.
Mission Produce will be collaborating with Cross Group, a temperature controls company, to incorporate a specialized mango sorting and packing line into the facility.
Paul Frowde, Managing Director of Mission Produce’s Europe and UK business, stated, “As we have been successfully establishing ourselves as a reliable supplier of high-quality, ripe avocados in the UK, this expansion will allow us to grow further and tap into the potential market for mangos.”
“By leveraging our global network and vertical integration, we are able to provide customers with the convenience of partnering with a single supplier that expertly ripens both avocados and mangoes, thanks to our operational excellence.”
Mission Produce is committed to delivering consistent quality to ensure a positive consumer experience with mangoes. Michael O’Sullivan, Senior Commercial Manager at the UK arm, stated, “We are drawing on our expertise in ripening and industry-leading technology to provide reliable and high-quality mangoes to the UK market. We believe we are well-positioned to become the top choice for consumers.”
Earlier this year, Mission Produce formed a joint venture with South Africa farming company ZZ2 Boerdery and private equity firm Criterion Africa Partners to boost its avocado supplies in Europe. South Africa is the second-largest supplier of avocados to the UK and EU during the summer season.
