The Re:fresh Packer of the Year award has gone to Northern salad producer Hazeldene Foods.

Part of the William Jackson Food Group, Hazeldene works with 11 UK growers, and the firm’s new Spanish office also works closely with its producers. Between them, the growers supply more than 30 different salad leaves and salad products, enabling Hazeldene to prepare and pack produce all year round. In total, 13.59 million kilos of produce passed through the factory last year.

The company has invested considerably in both machinery and staff over the last 12 months, allowing it to expand its customer base and product range. Recent additions include a new £1m ‘gentle’ wash line for baby leaf products, bringing the firm’s production lines to a total of six and enabling the company to pack a wide range of products from iceberg, baby leaf, salad bowls and dip pots to prepared salad vegetables.

Hazeldene was recently awarded the Migrant Workers North West charter for social practice.

The judges said: “Hazeldene Foods, a leading prepared produce business, has a passion for its products, quality and service which is outstanding.”

The company was founded in 1976 as a family business in the Lancashire village of Tarleton, which is surrounded by the rich growing soils of Southport and Wigan.

Local growers started to build partnerships with Hazeldene Foods, allowing the business to supply both retailers and the foodservice sector, and today many of those relationships still stand strong.

Finalists for the award were Innovation of the Year winner English Village Salads and Apple packer Well Pict County Local.

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