Parripak Foods said garlic has become a vital part of its business since it started processing the product 10 years ago and demand for peeled and pureed garlic is better than ever.

Marketing manager Dom Pleasance said: 'We are now peeling more garlic than we have ever done – and with the controlled atmosphere storage we have, we are able to offer a very consistent [supply] of garlic throughout the year.' Garlic has been so good for business, that the company moved into a new purpose-built processing factory earlier this year.

Started by two brothers from the family farm in 1987, Parripak supplies more than 300 tonnes of prepared vegetables to manufacturers of ready meals.

Pleasance said: 'Supplying manufacturers means we are ever expanding our product range. We are processing anything from butternut and mooli to sweet potato.'