Farmers Fresh Wales expands lamb trade with Polderlam

A growing partnership between two businesses either side of the North Sea is providing new opportunities for increased sales of Welsh lamb across the EU.

Farmers Fresh Wales is working with Dutch-based lamb processing company Polderlam, which has a distribution network for carcasses, from high-end restaurants to prepacked cuts for the retail trade.

See also: How a Welsh hill farm is improving lambs’ finishing weights

Stuart Morris, director of Farmers Fresh Wales, said the lambs were slaughtered at its Wrexham plant and the whole carcasses transported to Polderlam in the Netherlands, where it is processed and distributed across the Netherlands, Germany and other parts of Europe.

“This is a joint venture between us and Polderlam’s owner, Klaas van Veen,” explained Mr Morris.

“Initially, about 3,000 Welsh lamb carcasses are being sent every week to Polderlam, worth about £20m-£25m/year to Welsh farmers.”

© Philip Case/MAG

Mr Morris said Brexit had caused a lot of expense in exporting lamb, which UK farmers have had to withstand.

But under this agreement, they are able to send full truck loads with about 1,000 carcasses each to Polderlam, which can then distribute them with no need for additional paperwork.

“This is a long-term project. It will get bigger,” added Mr Morris.

Welsh sheep farmers who are interested in trading their lamb under the partnership should email johnwestcott105@outlook.com.