Eco-friendly focus for Nim’s Fruit Crisps sees manufacturing investment pay off
Ambitious expansion for British-based eco-friendly snacks producer Nim’s Fruit Crisps is being made possible through its achieving zero food waste in its innovative manufacturing operations, writes Neill Barston.
As Confectionery Production has previously covered, the company, based in Sittingbourne, Kent, has used a specialist air-dried production methods helped the business gain a coveted Queen’s Award for Industry, which brought the business national media attention.
Its continued development, which has seen it grow to utilise more than 600 tonnes of fresh fruit and veg a year, has resulted in a turnover boost nearing 20% due to its drive to make full use of produce that may otherwise have gone to waste.
As the business, which now employs 18 people noted, with the assistance of a £30,000 investment in an additional processing line, it has extended its base of core ranges out from snacks, moving into garnishes, baking decorations, as well as edible teas that have seen it gain a string of listings with major national supermarket chains.
Its fruit options include apples, pineapples, pears, watermelons, and all citrus fruits and can be used to flavour alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the point of manufacture, as well as used in bars, pubs, and hotels at the point of making/serving cocktails.
Speaking on the company’s continued fortunes, founder Nimisha Raja MBE, explained that she had forged the business on the basis of wanting to be as responsible as possible with her production methods, which has been enabled further as her enterprise has grown.
She said: “0.03% is unfit for human consumption, but we even have an answer for that with it being successfully sent to an anaerobic waste treatment plant and returned to us in the form of energy,” Raja added.
“This isn’t marketing rhetoric either. Our commitment to transparency and compliance has meant scrutiny through rigorous auditing bodies, such as BRCG, Sedex and SMETA, as well as customers such as Pret A Manger, The Azzurri Group, Marks & Spencer and Holland & Barrett all holding us to account. We did this for sustainable reasons. However, we quickly found that with the right machine we could create smaller ingredients that we are now selling online or direct to trade.”
Notably, the company has secured an ESG Award and a further accolade from the Kent Business Awards, which has spurred the company on to expanding its drive to seek out growers and distributors of fresh produce with a view to buying their excess fruit and vegetables, delivering a host of new partners.
Nimisha added: “It’s really rewarding to know that our suppliers appreciate the opportunity to declare their own reduction in food waste by proving they are using a ‘zero food waste’ supplier. In turn, this counts towards sustainability efforts and how they are combatting food waste across their supply chain. All our products are made using only 100% fruit and are the most natural, flavoursome, and sustainable ingredients available.
“With no artificial colouring, flavouring and preservatives, or indeed any other additives, they help consumers and manufacturers to offset the use of ultra-processed ingredients. They are also 100% allergen free and certified vegan, delivering universal appeal,” she explained, adding that was also enjoying interest from partners as diverse as gin manufacturers, ice cream businesses and porridge brands using its powders.
