Warwick site gives Happy Village supply boost
A Turkish organic produce business is reaping the benefits from setting up an operation in Warwickshire. It has secured deals with cereal producer Jordan's and high street giant Marks & Spencer.
Happy Village, which produces, packs and imports organic dried fruits and nuts, set up a base at the University of Warwick Science Park's innovation centre in 2009.
About 1,000 farmers in villages throughout Turkey are registered to the Happy Village project to produce organic products.
Two years ago, Fatma Akalin from the company set up the Warwickshire office, which has been attributed to a 60 per cent rise in UK sales and supply deals with Jordans cereal bars and Marks & Spencer.
Akalin said: "The projects are based in 80 different villages in Turkey. In the east we grow our apricots and mulberries; sultanas and raisins – which represents the largest volume in the range – as well as figs in the west; hazelnuts in the north and other fruits like sour cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and plums in various regions.
"In 2009 we decided to extend into the UK market and set up in the Midlands because of its central location and it means we don’t have far to travel to meet our customers in London and the West Midlands."
The company also launched retail packs under the Happy Village brand through wholesalers and distributors in the UK.
Happy Village exports about 6,000 tonnes of organic products every year from Turkey. They are distributed to the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, America and Japan.
