Albert Bartlett has reported a “satisfactory” performance across its core channels against “relentlessly challenging market and economic backdrop”.
Turnover for the potato supplier increased by 7.8% to £338.2m. Meanwhile, operating profit rose by 15.3% to £17.4m in the year to 31 May 2025, according to its latest accounts at Companies House.
Despite the growth, the business said there had been “no respite in the excessively demanding operating conditions”, pointing to increased costs across the supply chain.
Costs for the business had increased by 8.6%, reaching £238.3m in the year, the accounts showed.
The business said that the “most detrimental” cost was in wage inflation brought about by the rising national living wage and increases to National Insurance. The company’s employee costs rose in the period from £44.5m to £49m, an increase of 9.9%.
“Albert Bartlett, like many companies in the food industry, face significant challenges to pass labour and other costs through whilst simultaneously trying to remain competitive and retain listings and volumes,” it said.
The company said it was working with its suppliers, employees and customers to manage and mitigate cost pressures.
It also battled with significant weather challenges, with a shortage of crop from the 2023 harvest, which resulted in “exceptionally high free market costs driven by low availability”.
In contrast, the 2024 harvest yielded strong volumes, which led to an oversupply, resulting in a softening of the trading market towards the end of the financial year.
“The company is always impacted by trends in weather patterns creating uncertainty in growing conditions for potatoes every year, which also influences consumer buying patterns,” it said.
The accounting period also represented the first full year of Albert Bartlett owning the Jersey Royal Potato Company, which the business bought in March 2024.
In the period, the company said it focused investments on automation and process improvements to drive efficiency, which was essential in the face of rising pressures.
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