Graham Thorne
Part of the 3Ms group (3 Musketeers) which links 5 farms as a co-operating group of farmers:
- A.W. Mortier (Farms) Ltd
- Capel St Andrew Farms
- PRC & CM Westrope
- Wantisden Farms
- Mann’s Farms
All situated on the coast of East Suffolk with a total combined area of approx 7,000 hectares
All the farms in the 3Ms group are traditional family farms, passed on through the generations. They got together as a group 7 years ago, a move which Branston was inadvertently the catalyst for having approached the farms individually for supplies. The farms decided that they could operate more effectively together.
As well as potatoes, the group grows cereals, onions, carrots, parsnips, beet and sweetcorn.
“Over the past few years, our close relationship with Branston has provided good opportunities for growth. We’ve gone from around 3,000 to 7,000 hectares. Where Branston and 3Ms are alike is that we’ve both grown on the principles of simplicity, large volume and sound commerce.
“The 3Ms group is fairly self-sufficient in terms of field and growing services, so the main service we count on from Branston is buying our potatoes!
”Thanks to tough agricultural pricing, low commodity prices and rapid increases in operating costs, business over the last few years has been difficult. But in the medium to long term things are looking more positive. There now seems to be more of a chance that the public will accept sensible levels of food inflation and commodity crops have been starting to fare better than in recent years.”
