How We’re Futureproofing Our Operations For a Smarter Supply Chain

Here at MWW, we’re driven by finding new, innovative ways to futureproof our operations and ensuring we always offer our clients the best quality produce for their customers. Through smart investments, innovations, and focusing on continuous improvement, we’ve already taken a number of steps this year to strengthen our infrastructure, boost performance, cut down our carbon footprint and support sustainable growth across our sites from farms to packing plants.

Here’s just a few of the ways we’re upgrading and shaping our business for a brighter, green future:

Reinforcing Cold Chain Resilience: A New Blast Chilling Room

One of the most important developments for us this year is expansion of our blast chilling capacity to keep pace with our expanding business. The additional advanced cold storage facility is designed to reinforce quality, extend shelf life of our produce, and improve our overall cool chain capability.

Key features of the new blast chiller include:

• 52-pallet capacity for high-volume product storage.

• Variable temperature control to protect freshness and product quality for a range of produce.

• High humidity environment helping to prevent dehydration, preserve texture and shelf life.

• Flexible pallet access to support dynamic and cost-efficient supply chain needs

By choosing to invest in improved cold chain infrastructure, we are able to better manage post-harvest quality, chill a wider range of product lines in an optimum manner, and support peak demand periods.

Packing Innovation: Vertical Form Fill Line Arriving Soon

Another key development for us is the introduction of a brand-new Vertical Form Filler (VFF) line, which will transform our packing capabilities for brassicas and chillies.

This high-performance equipment will help us to:

• Boost packing capacity to meet increasing demand.

• Enable in-house packing of a wider range of produce.

• Enhanced responsiveness and flexibility to changing customer and market needs.

By investing in the Vertical Form Filler line, we’ll have greater control, flexibility, and speed which will help ensure consistent product quality from farm to shelf.

Lighting the Way: Smarter, Greener Site Illumination

In July 2024, we also completed a full lighting upgrade across our packhouse, cold stores, and warehouse areas—replacing legacy LED systems from 2015 with more efficient lighting with smart controls to reduce our carbon impact. The idea behind the upgrade was to cut costs and improve task lighting in our production areas.

As part of the upgrade, we have:

• We’ve replaced all outdated units with modern LED lights featuring smart controllers. These use less power while delivering brighter, more consistent light.

• Our lights now run at 80% of their full brightness, with motion sensors reducing them further during quiet shifts, especially overnight in the cold stores.

• The lower heat output from the LEDs means less strain on our refrigeration systems, adding to the overall savings.

• We’ve significantly cut our annual energy consumption, reduced costs, and lowered carbon emissions by more than 117 tons each year.

This upgrade supports our long-term sustainability goals while ensuring a safer, more efficient working environment for our teams.

Built for Growth, Designed for Tomorrow

As demand grows and expectations rise across the fresh produce industry, we’re investing in the systems, technology, and infrastructure that will carry us into the future while ensuring our supply chain continues with the same level of quality, consistency, and care that we have become known for.