Lancashire based family-owned fresh produce business secures six-figure funding from Lombard to upscale operations

Lancashire vegetable wholesaler, Huntapac Produce Ltd, is continuing to expand operations, driving forward its sustainability ambitions after securing more than £800k worth of funding.

The fourth-generation family-owned business was established in 1942 and specialises in growing, packing and distributing carrots and parsnips to the country’s biggest retailers. It has a network of farms around the UK, a packhouse located in Preston and a transport fleet allowing it to supply retailers 52 weeks of the year.

The latest funding from Lombard has enabled Huntapac to purchase two new state of the art dumpers. As well as the new dumpers, it has also invested in hybrid fleet vehicles, installed EV chargers, and fitted LED lighting in its packhouse.

Lombard has been working with the Preston based business for more than 18 years, financing almost all its capital expenditure and supporting it to become a major player in the UK wholesale market.

Lombards relationship manager, Elizabeth Flynn commented: “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Huntapac for almost two decades, offering financial support and dedicated professional advice, so we are thrilled to see how the business has flourished in that time.”

Lombard has played a vital role in assisting the modernisation of the firm, including funding the installation of a new automated line for extracting vegetable powder from crops, expending as much from its produce as possible, making the production process more sustainably viable.

Huntapac is owned by the Hunter family and is run presently by managing director, Warren Hunter. It employs 550 people from around the UK with at least 350 employed locally in Lancashire.

Discussing Lombards financial support, Huntapacs Managing director Warren Hunter said: “The relationship with Lombard has without doubt enabled us to scale up, with the introduction of new technology helping with more efficient working methods and ultimately driving forward our sustainable plans for the future.”