ScSMB has made its long-standing trading agreement with Canary Islands salads producers official, relaunching SMB as Spania Fresh, with effect from December 1.

The merger of the Essex importer with its two suppliers in Tenerife – Pretoso SL and Coop Agricola de Tamaimo – and three in Gran Canaria – Coop Colicam, Coop Sardinia del Sur and Coop Tablero del Sur – is 'a natural progression,' said ScSMB md Morna Blair. 'It is something which for both us and our growers is a positive and secure move forward.' The companies have been working together under an exclusive trading agreement but with no financial tie-ups. Spania Fresh represents the formalisation of this relationship, which brings 3m boxes of Canary Island tomatoes to the UK each season.

'There is potential for olther Canary Islands producers and growers on mainland Spain to join the group,' said sales and procurement director Steve Cornwell, 'but all of the suppliers to Spania Fresh will do so on an exclusive basis.' The Spania Fresh move is hot on the heels of Allfru's signing of Copaisan's tomatoes as the islands' industry changes shape.

Topics