1st October 2019

Horticulture producer cultivates new growth after £900,000 from MEIF Maven Debt Finance

Funding will be used to acquire new technology supporting growth and creating 14 new jobs in Greater Lincolnshire

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund (“MEIF”) Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”), has provided Lincolnshire-based, Jepco, with a £900,000 funding package, which will enable the horticulture firm to acquire the hydroponic technology and equipment needed to expand production all year round. The finance package will also create 14 new jobs in the region. This is the second MEIF loan made to the Jepco Group.

Two distinct opportunities have arisen for Jepco. The first is to help protect crop growers in the UK, affected by Fusarium, a soil fungi that destroys crops. The second is the introduction of an all year-round supply of salads from UK growers for the retail sector, which have now started to trial in a major UK supermarket.

The firm’s new hydroponic production facility will help to avoid Fusarium due to the process not involving soil. It will also allow all-year round production at the same time as significantly reducing the impact on the environment with the process requiring 10 per cent or less water than traditional outdoor growing methods.

Now in its third generation, the family-run company is led by CEO, Stuart Piccaver, the grandson of John E Piccaver, who founded the business in 1946.

Stuart Piccaver, CEO at Jepco (Marketing) said “We look forward to investing in our hydroponic solution, offering our customers a high yielding alternative for the future. Our new systems will provide great advantages across our supply chain, providing benefits for the consumer, retailers and growers in the UK and Ireland.”

The high cost of purchasing and installing hydroponic systems has been a significant barrier for growers. Jepco has identified soilless growing systems that are affordable and will retro-fit these to existing protected structures such as greenhouses.

Richard Altoft, Investment Director at Maven Capital Partners said “We are very pleased to be working with another company from the Jepco Group - helping fund an innovative hydroponics project. This separate facility will provide a sustainable offering to Jepco’s customers and deliver a solution to protected crop growers in Ireland and the UK.”

Lewis Stringer, Senior Manager at the British Business Bank, said:

“The Midlands Engine Investment Fund has been set up to provide finance to firms across the entire region. Maven Capital Partners will now support additional growth in this innovative Lincolnshire business. We would encourage other businesses looking to scale up and grow to check out the options available through MEIF.”

A spokesperson from Business Lincolnshire, said:

“We are delighted to hear that Lincolnshire-based Jepco has secured a £900k funding package from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund. This is a boost to food manufacturing in our county, which many will know is famous for producing much of the fresh produce we see on the supermarket shelves. We will continue to support and encourage Lincolnshire based businesses across industries to apply for finance and support to help their businesses thrive in the coming years.”

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.