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The University of Southampton
Global Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention

NAMRIP starts joint research programme with Vitacress

Published: 7 March 2017
NAMRIP team visiting Vitacress site
Left to right: Ruth Wilson, Tim Leighton, Craig Dolder, Weng Yee Chong, Chris Hall, Tom Secker

On 7 March 2017 a team from NAMRIP visited Vitacress at Andover to mark the start of a joint project to optimise the quality and longevity of prepared salads. Vitacress and the University of Southampton are delighted to be working together.

Chris Hall, Managing Director of Vitacress Salads, said: “Our cooperation with the University of Southampton adds value throughout our supply chain, from watering regimes, to ensuring we have the best leaf varieties, and clear messages to communicate to the consumer about the fantastic health benefits of products we provide. Therefore, it seems natural to extend this to the processes in our pack house.”

The Southampton team  included Weng Yee Chong, the new PhD student sponsored by Vitacress; one of her supervisors, Professor Tim Leighton, and Early Career Researchers Dr Craig Dolder, from engineering and Dr Tom Secker from microbiology; reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the work.

Watercress washed in spring water
Watercress washed in spring water

Chris Hall, Managing Director of Vitacress Salads, said: “Our cooperation with the University of Southampton adds value throughout our supply chain, from watering regimes, to ensuring we have the best leaf varieties, and clear messages to communicate to the consumer about the fantastic health benefits of products we provide. Therefore, it seems natural to extend this to the processes in our pack house.”

The Southampton team  included Weng Yee Chong, the new PhD student sponsored by Vitacress; one of her supervisors, Professor Tim Leighton, and Early Career Researchers Dr Craig Dolder, from engineering and Dr Tom Secker from microbiology; reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the work.

We are determined to continue to set industry leading standards in the sustainable growing and processing of leaf salad and our collaboration with Professor Leighton and NAMRIP present exciting opportunities

Dr Steve Rothwell - Non-Executive Managing Director, Vitacress

We are delighted to be working with Vitacress as a NAMRIP partner. Their ‘washed in spring water only’ philosophy requires ingenuity. They have made a tremendous investment in revamping their factory, and we are delighted to be part of such an adventure

Professor Tim Leighton - Chair of NAMRIP, University of Southampton
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