Cream of the crop Lamb Weston

CREAM OF THE CROP

Lamb Weston/Meijer is a global leader in the field of frozen potato products. Philip Yorke talked to Dale McCarthy, the company’s director of manufacturing, about its diverse range of products, its innovative customer services and strategy for future growth.

Lamb Weston/Meijer traces its roots back to 1920 when Kees Meijer’s family began a potato farm in Zeeland in the Netherlands, where they decided to grow only the very best quality potatoes. The company prospered and by 1950 had become a major producer for the Benelux counties. Meanwhile in the USA, another entrepreneurial potato grower called F. Gilbert Lamb started a company in Weston in the state of Oregon. That company was called Lamb Weston, and in 1960 Gilbert Lamb patented a revolutionary invention: the world’s first cutting machine to cut fries under high water pressure. By the early 1990s both companies had grown considerably and were brand leaders in the frozen potato industry in their respective geographical regions. Subsequently an alliance was formed resulting in a merger that created the Lamb Weston/Meijer group. It’s headquarter is based in The Netherlands, with five factories across Europe.

Today the global Lamb Weston company is one of the top three largest potato product manufacturers in the world, employing more than 6,200 people and producing 3.1 million tons of potato products each year, which is equal to more than 10 million portions of fries per day in Europe alone. Lamb Weston’s products are sold in more than 100 countries across all seven continents and it operates over a dozen modern manufacturing plants worldwide.

Innovation and consistent quality driving sales

Lamb Weston enjoys a reputation of being the most innovative producer of potato products in the world and this differentiates it from its competitors. The company is committed to investing a great deal of time, money and resources into the development of new and improved potato products. Lamb Weston recognises that the wishes of its customers and consumers are paramount when it comes to the development of new products. To this end it regularly carries out independent market and consumer research to understand what is happening in the market place and the latest trends. New concepts in the context of flavour, quality, consistency and convenience are all first tested extensively before being taken into production.

The company’s legendary status in the frozen potato market is based upon many factors including its introduction of the world’s first potato wedges in 1976, which took the market by storm and today is one of the world’s most popular frozen potato varieties, McCarthy said.

“The Lamb Weston/Meijer group is an equal partnership between Lamb Weston of the USA and Kees Meijer of the Netherlands and our combined creativity and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities have resulted in an unparalleled combination of expertise, innovative recipes and technology. We are in a very competitive marketplace and we continue to succeed by bringing unique solutions to our customers and by exceeding their expectations. Our customers know that they can rely on our consistent high quality and the products that we develop in cooperation with them.”

McCarthy added, “We serve a diverse portfolio of clients with differing needs that range from quick-service restaurants and food service companies to the retail and general food industries. Quality, flavour, innovation and a low cost price form the ingredients of our

success and of the success of our customers. And our customers include some of the biggest brand names in the business, such as McDonald’s and Burger King. Our continuous improvement policy and our special management process known as ‘Accelerator Methodology’ ensures that along with our customers, we stay one step ahead of the competition.”

Huge variety

Lamb Weston’s product range is by its nature huge in the variety of cut styles, recipes and packaging innovations that it can create. A significant part of its activities is focused on the supply of products developed in partnership with its customers. The challenge is to offer or develop a suitable solution for each new food concept or demand. For example, the 30,000 tons of potato flakes that the company produces each year are used in a wide variety of products for the food industry. Companies all over the world process these high quality flakes to create a huge range of products, and they form the basis for instant soups, mashed potatoes, crisps, gnocchi, bread mixes and snacks. Lamb Weston potato flakes are of consistent high quality and available in a variety of colours and sizes and the great variation of products ensures that every meal is different but equally delicious.

Lamb Weston want their customers to be one hundred per cent satisfied, not only with their products but also with their service. The company therefore pays a great deal of attention to its customer support programmes and works at establishing a good and lasting relationship with all its clients, both large and small. Furthermore, due to the company’s contacts throughout the world, Lamb Weston’s service staff are fluent in a number of languages, so the company can speak at a local level which in turn improves communications and efficiency.

However, it is not only its customers that are important to Lamb Weston, but its growers too and they are drawn from the best cultivation areas in Europe. They grow only the very best quality potatoes and the company assists them with professional advice on fertilisation, crop protection, irrigation and storage. In addition, Lamb Weston works with a group of leading growers to further develop their crop expertise and to remain at the cutting edge of improving crop technology. n