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*Southern Salads, a provider of leafy salads and fresh fruit and vegetables to the foodservice sector, has entered the retail market for the first time, to supply 14 different fresh produce lines to convenience store chain Spar in the UK. *

Andrew Boakes, Southern Salads Operations Director, said: "We are entering an exciting time. The partnership with Spar will bring us to the forefront of the retail industry, at a time when consumers are appreciating the benefits of healthy eating more than ever. Our range of high quality salad solutions are as versatile as they are fresh and to take them to the retailer is an important step for us."

Kent-based Southern Salads has been supplying fresh produce and ready-made salads to the largest foodservice operators in the UK for 21 years, but also has joint ventures abroad.

Boakes concluded: "The growth plans are ambitious as we expect the business to double its size in manufacturing capacity and turnover from £25m to £50m by 2010."

The Spar chain has some 2,600 stores across the UK, with an annual turnover of £2.7 billion.