I recently had the privilege of spending two eye-opening days in Shropshire, diving deep into the inner workings of our food supply chain — from the soil to the supermarket shelf. It was a brilliant experience that brought to life just how much effort, precision, and teamwork it takes to deliver fresh food to our tables.
This was part of the Future Farmer Programme I’m currently undertaking with Harper Adams University and sponsored by Tesco. Applications have just opened for next years cohort, and I’d really recommend the programme to anyone in the sector. You can find out more and apply here.
Day 1: From Field to Factory at PDM Produce
Our journey began at PDM Produce (UK) Ltd, where an astonishing 60 bags of salad are produced every minute. We traced the lifecycle of salad from planting in the fields to operations in the factory where produce is washed, packed, and prepared for distribution.
The scale and efficiency of the process were impressive, but what really stood out was the level of detail and care behind every step. From precision planting to temperature-controlled logistics, it was a powerful reminder of how much coordination goes on behind the scenes.
Day 2: Yoghurt Production
The second day kicked off at the Müller UK & Ireland facility in Market Drayton, where 15 million pots of yoghurt are produced each day. Watching the storage of incoming milk into the factory to produce an array of yoghurt products in large-scale production and quality control was really interesting.
We then visited a local dairy farm with 1,300 units, which supplies milk to Müller. Seeing the farm-to-factory connection first-hand made it clear just how interconnected and essential each link in the chain really is. To round off the trip, we stopped at a Tesco Superstore, where we saw the final leg of the journey – the product reaching the consumer. It was fascinating to see the supermarket from a different perspective following our previous visits. It was interesting to understand how even the smallest changes in logistics or presentation can ripple through the entire supply chain!
Leadership in Agriculture: Lessons from Izak van Heerden
We were also lucky to hear from Izak van Heerden, who shared insights from his travels with the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, focusing on leadership and emotional intelligence in the agricultural sector.
Three key takeaways that resonated deeply:
1. Authenticity - Lead with who you are. Be honest and be real.
2. People remember how you make them feel - Leadership is about relationships.
3. Ubuntu - "Humanity to all". A reminder that empathy and collaboration can move mountains.
Izak also spoke about issues in agricultural recruitment and, as those in the industry, how we can tackle these problems and overcome them. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience, the people we met, and the chance to see our food system and enitre supply chain in action.
Remember, applications are now open for next year's cohort! Feel free to reach out with any questions.
📩 hannah.cuthbert@morepeople.co.uk
