The Princess Royal has officially opened AC Goatham’s new £10 million packhouse and coldstore.
Named the Arthur Goatham building after company founder and father of Clive Goatham, the packhouse is located at Flanders Farm, Hoo.
The Princess was met by the senior management team of AC Goatham, where she was given a tour around the new state-of-the art facility. She also met members of staff, local dignitaries and unveiled a plaque.
Goatham said: “I am incredibly proud and honoured for HRH The Princess Royal to have visited Flanders Farm, to have given her a tour of the building and for her to have officially opened it in memory of my late father.
“My parents would have both been very proud to have been here today and to have seen how the business has grown. It was fantastic for our team to be able to meet Her Royal Highness and for this to have taken place in our 70th anniversary year.”
Managing director Ross Goatham said: “Our 70th anniversary year has been a fantastic year. The future of fruit growing has changed significantly over the last 70 years and we are now competing with growers from across the world, so it is important that we invest in the latest technology throughout our business.
“We are continuously working together with our 20 partner growers and customers towards providing a secure and sustainable British fruit supply for the future. This will be done by securing more orchard sites and over time replanting apples and pears on new and more efficient growing systems. By 2020 we will have planted in excess of two million new fruit trees.”
Established in 1947, AC Goatham now has 27 farms in Medway and Kent, growing some 200 million apples and 50 million pears each year.
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