Hart beats a little faster Hart Worldwide, the leading apple supplier to Asda, has completed the first stage of a £3m prepacking and storage facility at Peterborough. Its initial operating capacity is 1,100 pallets, rising to 1,500. Currently handling the equivalent of 60,000 cartons of southern hemisphere fruit per week, the company claims it is the largest independent importer of apples and pears, controlling some 17% of the market by volume. The 50,000 sq ft depot is one of the most mechanised apple packing operations in the UK, integrating a complete water flotation system which carries fruit through the grading lines. It also allows shipments to be received in 300kg bulk bins rather than traditional cartons. Director Daniel Hart says while the system is used in other countries, HW is the only UK importer. He added: "If we can guarantee supply of the best fruit in the world and get this right first time at source, our customers will sell more and we will avoid unnecessary UK costs. We also have our own marketing team working with key customers to develop in-store category initiatives." Following trials, next autumn the company will also be handling English fruit in commercial volumes. {{FRESH PRODUCE }}

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