Natures Way Foods
Natures Way Foods is a leading manufacturer of fresh convenient food to major UK supermarkets and food services companies. Its customers include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi and Greencore Group.
The Challenge
Due to a continued rise in demand for its fresh bagged salads, Natures Way has continued to invest and, in particular, to extend its factory in Selsey with the installation of 15 new production lines – nine in 2018 and another six in 2021.
These production lines needed to co-operate with the existing infrastructure in place at the Selsey factory, while enabling them to meet changing consumer behaviour. Producing high-quality output was a must, which meant identifying solutions that could work with fresh produce and preserve it during the production process. It also meant introducing whole line equipment that could ensure every product met specification consistently.
The Solution
Yamato Scale won a competitive tender for the project by proving its ability to adapt and provide bespoke industry-leading multihead weighers, checkweighers and inspection equipment ideal for fresh produce manufacturing, and, crucially, its commitment to the provision of exceptional after-sales support.
Natures Way Food’s Selsey-based salad facility now has a total of 25 production lines, 23 of which use Yamato multihead weighers (8 Sigma and 15 Omega series) and 25 with Yamato checkweigher/metal detection combi systems.
Yamato’s experts ensured that the new machinery was fully compatible with Nature’s Way Foods’ existing equipment and worked alongside other key providers to enable the smooth installation and commissioning of the new production lines.
“We were impressed by Yamato’s ability to offer us a bespoke package including multihead weighers, checkweigher/metal detector combis, OEE, camera monitoring systems, commissioning, spares and service equipment.
Yamato offers good value for money; the equipment is accurate and easy to use – and fits with our operating criteria. Additionally, the Yamato team has expansive knowledge within the food industry and has the customer’s interest as a priority.”
Peter Jones, Site Facilities Manager for Natures Way Foods
The Result
The equipment, which was commissioned in January 2021, will help Natures Way grow its capacity and reputation as a specialist supplier of bagged salads, leafy salad bowls, and food-to-go products.