New Member: Vitacress – Developing People and Produce

We are thrilled to have Vitacress onboard!

What started as 1-acre in Hampshire, has now developed into a multinational company employing 1,500 people. Vitacress describe how being an MDS Member will benefit them and the sector.

Who are Vitacress?

Vitacress take great pride in being one of Europe’s leading suppliers of watercress, leafy salads, spinach and fresh herbs. From farms in the UK, Portugal and Spain, we work to produce fresh leafy salads and herbs all year round. The business started in 1951 with ambition, determination and 1 precious acre of watercress beds in Alresford, Hampshire.

We are now part of the RAR Group with a network of farms employing over 1500 people across Europe. Vitacress employees are expert growers and we supply both own-label branded products to major supermarkets across Europe as well as our own premium quality SEASON herbs and prepared salad bags, Steve’s Leaves, directly to the consumer. The company is proud of being at the forefront of food innovation, always developing ways to make our premium product tastier whilst ensuring we produce a great quality and sustainable product.

Our values:

• Always deliver quality- this is about taking pride in all we do to help us set the best possible standards
• Do the right thing- behaviours that inspire Vitacress to lead with compassion as a business
• Nurture the future- focused on always improving – ourselves and our products

We fulfil these values through rigour, accountability, confidence, listening, honesty, innovation, motivation and being a proactive team player.

Life with Vitacress

Vitacress believe in creating an environment where people are valued and listened to. Where you can grow your skills. Where support and opportunities enable you to flourish.

As one team with a shared vision, our aim is to grow ourselves, the business and improve our surroundings.

Why MDS?

Vitacress has joined the MDS scheme as we believe this will provide a strategic investment in talent development, leadership succession and organisational growth. We believe that MDS trainees can cultivate a skilled and committed workforce that can contribute to the company’s long-term success. Vitacress hope that the MDS trainees start their secondment with a passion for the industry and will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the business. We hope to identify future leaders within the industry and support the trainees on their path to success.

Ultimately, growing is at the heart of our business, therefore, the MDS scheme allows us to live this value by offering Vitacress an opportunity to grow talent within the industry. Vitacress commit to providing the MDS trainees an opportunity to build their careers in a supportive and encouraging environment. We feel that the business will benefit from new talent and the trainees will benefit from the wealth of experience held within our teams.