Albert Bartlett and Jersey Royal
The Jersey Royal Company and Albert Bartlett were the two leading potato companies on the island, in 2024 they came together to create Jersey Royal Company. The Jersey Royal Company started their business in the 90’s, establishing their model of producing and exporting Jersey Royals. Founded in 1948, Albert Bartlett started their Jersey business in 2007, to improve dramatically the way the delicate Jersey Royals were handled and presented to our customers.
The Jersey Royal Company
In 2024 Albert Bartlett acquired The Jersey Royal Company, the consolidation of the island’s leading producers is key to delivering a sustainable future for the famous crop, while continuing to deliver a great product for consumers. Today, Jersey Royal Company now has 8 generational farming families and their own in house farming operations, dedicated to growing Jersey Royals across 5,000 vergees; (an ancient land measurement still used in Jersey) the equivalent of 2,300 acres or 930 hectares of land, and they form the majority of the island’s fresh produce exports. Depending on weather conditions during the growing season, the Island produces up to 30,000 tonnes annually – with as many as 1,200 tonnes exported every day during peak production in May. Jersey’s soil is light and well drained, and many farmers still use ‘vraic’ – the local seaweed – as a natural fertiliser and soil conditioner (a tradition that dates back to the12th century).
Packing at source
In that first year, after talking to the Jersey government and local growers, Albert Bartlett agreed a site for a new pack house on the outskirts of Jersey’s capital, St Helier. The site was formerly one of the largest dairy farms on the island, although the owner, Stuart Mourant, and his son Nick had recently stopped growing Jersey Royals. However, they were so encouraged by our long-term commitment that Nick started growing the crop again! The state-of-the-art facility can wash, hydro-cool and pack the highly prized Jersey Royals within hours of them being harvested, so they arrive in stores almost two days fresher than was previously possible. Hydrocooling means that the potatoes are showered with water to cool them down rapidly after harvesting, which helps to keep them fresh. Processing at the source also cuts down significantly on road haulage and reduces the carbon footprint. Albert Bartlett use advanced technology to conserve water and lessen our impact on the environment, working closely with our experienced growers on Jersey, many of whom are fourth and fifth generation. Supporting them with planting and agronomy strategies, as well as irrigation, harvesting and seed storage. Albert Bartlett are committed to meeting our own strict sustainability and environmental objectives as we grow and develop.
